THE EPEIRID^E 



171 



401 



401 a 



Figs. 401, 401 a. Epeira 

 thaddeus, enlarged four 

 times. 



The abdomen is white or light yellow on the upper side, and 



brown underneath, the edge of the dark color coming far 



enough up to be seen from 

 above, around the sides and 

 front (fig. 401). Under the 

 middle of the abdomen is a 

 yellow spot just behind the 

 epigynum(fig.40i a). In some 

 individuals there is a trace of 

 markings on the hinder part 

 of the abdomen, and the 



under side is sometimes light, so that there is a dark ring 



around the middle of the abdomen. This spider makes a tent 



near the web and lives in 



it like insularis. 



Epeira trifolium. — This is 



one of the largest species 



of the family, measuring 



from half to three-quarters 



of an inch long, with a 



large round abdomen, 



usually of a purplish brown 



color, and legs strongly 



marked with black rings 



(fig. 403). The cephalo- 



thorax is white, with three 



wide black stripes. The 



legs are white, with a black 



ring at the end of each 



joint and in the middle of 



the fourth femur. The 



back of the abdomen varies 



in color from dark purplish brown to light gray or white, or 



Fig. 402. Epeira trifolium in its nest in a plant 

 of golden-rod. Natural size. 



