[125] 



COLLECTING AND PEESEKVING INSECTS RILEY. 



Fig. 129. — A ground Spider (Oxyopes viridans). (After 

 Comstock.) 



during winter. A mass of leaves and other material is thrown into the 

 sieve and then shaken, the spiders falling through on a piece of white 

 cloth, which is spread under 

 the sieve on the ground. 

 Many hibernating species 

 can be readily secured in this 

 manner. A forceps similar 

 to that described for the col- 

 lecting of hexapods should be 

 used to capture or pick up 

 specimens, for if handled with 

 the fingers they are apt to be 

 crushed, especially the 

 smaller forms. As soon as 

 the collecting is finished or the vial is filled a label should be placed in 

 this last indicating place and date of collection. Egg sacs and cocoons 

 should be collected in pill boxes and properly labeled, and if possible 

 the adults should be reared. Both sexes should be collected and 

 descriptive notes or drawings made of the webs as found in nature. 



Time and Locality for Collecting. — The best time to collect spiders is 

 in the early fall, during the months of September and October. The 

 great majority of the species are then mature. Many forms, however, 

 •occur in the adult state in late spring and early summer. Numerous 

 species may also be collected during winter, some of these hibernating 

 under stones, the bark of dead trees, etc., and others, more particularly 

 the small forms, under dead leaves and rubbish on the ground in woods. 

 Other species which have hibernated may be found about the earliest 

 flowers in spring. ISo particular localities can be indicated for the col- 

 lection of spiders, since they occur in all sorts of places, in wooded or 

 open regions and also in and about dwellings. Many Lycosidse are 



f found in dry and rocky situa- 

 tions and quite a number in 

 open fields. Thomisidse may 

 be found on flowers. The 

 Theridida; affect shady places, 

 and many Epeiridae will be 

 found in similar situations. 

 The Attidpe love the sun and 

 are found very actively en- 

 gaged in hunting insects on 

 plants and dead leaves. 

 Many species of this family 

 will be found in cases under 

 loose bark in winter. Evergreen trees are also quite good collecting 

 grounds for Attidse. The Drassidse are ground spiders and are mostly 

 jiocturnal, hiding during the day under leaves and stones j a few forms. 



Tig. 130. — An orb-weaver (Argiope argyraspides Walck) : 

 a, male; 6, female; c and d, enlarged parts. 



