1 8 THE STUDY OF INSECTS 



The larger members of our common species belong to the genus 

 Lycosa. These drag after them their egg-sacs as described above; and 

 when the young hatch they climb on their mother's back, and are carried 

 about for a time. Whether the mother provides nourishment or not for 

 the young during this period has not been definitely determined. 



Family Attid^e 

 The Jumping Spiders 



The jumping spiders are of medium size, with a short body and short 



stout legs (Fig. 35). They are common on 

 plants, logs, fences, and the sides of buildings. 

 They are very apt to attract attention by 

 their peculiar appearance; their short stout 

 legs, bright colors, conspicuous eyes, and 

 quick, jumping movements being very differ- 

 ent from those of ordinary spiders. 



The eyes are arranged in three rows; 

 those of the front middle pair are the largest, 

 and are very conspicuous. These self-pos- 

 sessed spiders are able to stare an ordinary 

 observer out of countenance. They move 

 sidewise or backward with great ease, and can 

 jump a long distance. They make no webs 

 except nests in which they hide in winter or 

 when moulting or laying eggs. They are 

 hunters, pursuing their prey or springing upon 

 it when it comes near them. 



In certain members of this family the 

 body is longer than in the typical forms, and 



. — A jumping spider, Salti- 

 (From the Spider Book, 

 Doubleday, Page and Company.) 



ant-like in appearance. 



Order ACARINA 

 The Mites 



In this order the abdomen is unsegmented and broadly and closely 

 joined with the thorax usually giving the entire body a more or less sac- 

 like appearance. In many members of this order the body is divided into 

 two regions which resemble the cephalothorax and abdomen of other 

 arachnids but really the regions are not the same in their structure and 

 make up. In many mites the body is marked by numerous transverse, 

 fine lines, which are so impressed as to appear like the divisions between 

 minute segments (Fig. 38). 



As a rule the cheliceras are of characteristic form and often chelate but 

 in many of the mites and ticks they are modified into slender, nccdle-like 

 organs, fitted for piercing and sucking. 



As in most arachnids the normal number of legs is eight but almost 

 always the newly-hatched young have only six legs (3 pairs) while the 

 adult members of the gall-mites, family Eriophyidce, have but two pairs 

 of legs. With the exception of a few species the mites reproduce by 

 laying eggs. 



