I 10 



THE COMMON SPIDERS 



THE GENUS THERIDIUM 



The Theridiums are small soft-bodied spiders, making large 

 and loose webs without any large flat sheet of silk, but only a 

 slightly closer portion where the spider stands, or a nest or tent 

 connected with the web. TJieridium tepidariorum (fig. 258) 

 and rupicola (fig. 261) live in houses or among rocks, making 

 large loose webs, in which the spider often stands without 

 any covering. They have the abdomen high in front and 



Fig. 256. Web of young Theridium tepidariorum in a corner of a trellis. A little less than 

 the real size. The spider stood in the close part near the middle. 



tapering a little toward the spinnerets. TJieridium globosum 

 (fig. 262) has the abdomen of the same shape. The other 

 species are all small and have the abdomen round and brightly 



