AKASBUS. 223 



237. Argyope aemula, Walck. Ins. Apt. ii, p. 118, 1837 (Epeira); 

 Thorell, Ann. Mtis. Genova, xvii, p. 63, 1881 (Argiope) (for 

 synonymy) : trivittata, Karsch, Deri. ent. Zeits. xxxvi, p. 280, 

 t. x, fig. 6, 1892 (dark variety). 



Colour very much as in A. pulchella, but the black stripes and 

 posterior black patch on the abdomen broken up 

 into a series of transverse black lines by intervening 

 broader pale bands. Abdomen about one-third 

 longer than wide, oval, truncate in front, its sides 

 evenly and lightly rounded ; ventral plate of vulva 

 longer than wide, sulcate, and mesially produced 

 posteriorly with rounded apex. 

 Total length about 23 mm. 



Loc. Ceylon : Trincomali (Yerbury), Punduloya 

 (Green). India : Trivandrum (Ferguson), Nilgiri 

 Hills (Daly), Pooua Ghats ( Wroughton), E. K,han- 

 desh (Madan), Balsar in S. G-uzerat (Wroughton). 

 Fig. 71. Burma : Eangoon, Tharrawaddy, Bhamo (Gates <$f 

 Argwpe amula, Fea ^ jficobar i s . . i nc i o _ and Austro-Malaysia. 



> X 3 . 



238. Argyope catenulata, Doleschall, Verh. Nat. Vereen. Nederland. 

 Indie, v, no. 5, p. 30, t. ix, tig. 1, 1859 (Epeira) ; Thorell, Ann. Mm. 

 Genova, xxviii, p. 90, 1890 (synonymy) : stellata, Stolickza, J. A. 

 S. B. xxxviii, pt. 2, p. 234, t. xviii, fig. 6, 1869. 



Allied to A. cemula, but differing considerably in colour, the 

 posterior three-fourths of the upper side of the abdomen orna- 

 mented with transverse yellow stripes, frequently interrupted in 

 the middle, the spaces between the bands occupied by transverse 

 rows, each consisting of four subspherical pale spots, of which the 

 median fuse together at the posterior end of the abdomen ; the 

 area occupied by the median spots covered with a continuous 

 coating of silky hairs forming a band broad in front and narrowed 

 behind. 



Loc. Ceylon : Peradeniya (Sarasin). India : Wagra Karoor 

 (Simon)] Sunderbans (Stoliezkci). Burma: Tharrawaddy, Moulmein 

 (Gates). Nicobar Is. ; Indo- and Austro-Malaysia. 



Genus AEANEUS, Clerck. 



Araneus, Clerck, Svetiska Spindlar, p. 22, 1757. 

 Araneus + Cyrtophora, Simon, Hist. Nat. Araign, i, pp. 775 & 829, 

 1895. 



Carapace convex; eyes of posterior line lightly or strongly 

 recurved ; quadrangle a little longer than wide ; lateral eyes 

 separated or in contact. Legs strong ; protarsi shorter than tibiae 

 and patellae. Female with distinct vulva. Male with complicated 

 palpus. 



Type, A. diadematus, Clerck. 



Distribution. Tropical and temperate countries. 



