THE LYCOSID/E 



8 9 



longest, but all 

 long spines. 



than in Lycosa and very high in front. The cephalothorax is 



two-thirds as wide as long and rounded both in front and 



behind (fig. 218). The abdomen of the male is smaller than 



the cephalothorax, but that of the female is wider and longer. 



It is widest in the middle, rounded in «. front, and pointed 



behind. The legs are slender, the first pair 



nearly of the same length and with very 



The colors and markings are very 



variable. The legs are white or * 



pale yellow, with black spines. The 



light parts of the body are the same 



color, with brown and black markings. 



There are usually four brown stripes on 



the cephalothorax from the eyes backward, 



and two black lines in front from the lower 



eyes down the front of the mandibles 



(fig. 219). The most constant mark of the 



abdomen is a pointed middle spot extending 



as far as the middle of the back. This is 



generally surrounded by light color, and at 



the sides are narrow oblique brown marks. 



There are sometimes fine black lines on the 



under sides of the femora and a wide black 



middle stripe under the abdomen. The 



males are sometimes colored like the female, 



and vary from this to black abdomen and palpi, with the rest 



of the body pale. A very common species in the southern 



states in the early summer, running on low bushes. There is 



another Oxyopes about the same size that has been found a 



few times as far north as New England. 



Oxyopes (Peucetia) viridans. — This is a common and conspicuous 

 spider in the South. It is a bright transparent green, with red 

 spots and black spines. It grows to a length of three-quarters 



Fig. 220. 

 viridans. 

 feraa le 

 four 



Oxyopes 

 — Young 

 enlarged 

 times. 



