194 



THE COMMON SPIDERS 



between it and the sticky circles there is a wide space in which 

 is nothing but the bare rays. 



Argiope riparia. — This and the next species are among the 

 largest and most conspicuous of the round-web spiders. It 

 lives among grass and low bushes in open fields and meadows, 

 especially along the borders of ponds and ditches. It matures 



/ />' 



I /./ 



Li if ft\^*r ii u 



*• W( 



' tr wM i , 



i'h 



Fig. 451. Middle of web of Argiope riparia, natural size. The large inner spiral ends at b 

 and the outer spiral at a. At c, c, are thickened spots on the rays where the inner 

 spiral was attached while the web was making. 



in the northern states about the first of August. Large females 

 are nearly an inch long, with the front legs longer than the body 

 (fig. 449). The cephalothorax is nearly as wide as long and 

 covered with silvery white hairs, except around the eyes. The 

 front legs are entirely black, and the others are black, except 

 the femora, which are light red or yellow. The abdomen is 



