154 



24. Theridion lineatum. 

 PI. 17, fig. 3. 



Description. Cephalothorax blackish ; abdomen deep pur- 

 plish, or reddish black, with several diagonal white lines, and a 

 succession of red spots edged with yellow, and sometimes united 

 in the form of a band; a red spot underneath also; feet black- 

 ish, usually varied with yellow, 1. 4. 2. 3. Male with the 

 same markings. 



Observations. This very common species is usually found 

 under stones, logs, or clods, always near the ground. It serves 

 as a prey to those singular hymenopterous insects, usually 

 called in the South dirt daubers, which enclose in [282] their 

 clay nests from twenty to forty small spiders, to serve as food 

 for their progeny. I once counted thirty-eight specimens of 

 this species extracted from one cell, made by a Trypoxylon, and 

 I have found them repeatedly in the nests of Sphex cyanea. 

 There may be some difficulty in distinguishing the male of this 

 species from the male of Theridion verecundum ; the differences 

 are pointed out in the description of that species. The male of 

 this has never been observed with a compound palpus ; the last 

 joint was merely greatly enlarged, as in the plate ; but in some 

 specimens the enlargement was less remarkable. Can it be 

 that none of the very many specimens observed by me were 

 yet adult, and that the compound parts of the male organ 

 appear only at a certain period ? It is possible that the plate 

 representing the male of this must be referred to TJi. vere- 

 cundum. 



Habitat. North Carolina, Alabama. 



[A specimen was found in March, with black legs and no 

 white bands on the abdomen ; others were found in July. Sup- 

 plement.~\ 



[Marietta, O., ?. Wm. Holden. j. n. e.] 



