A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE 



ARGYOPID^ 



The spiders included in this family have eight eyes, 

 situated in two rows, the lateral eyes of both rows 

 being usually adjacent, if not in actual contact, while 

 the central eyes form a quadrangle. The tarsal claws 

 are three, often with other supemumerar)- claws. The 

 web is either an orbicular (wheel-like) snare, or con- 

 sists of a sheet of webbing, beneath which the spiders 

 hang, and capture the prey as it falls upon the sheet. 

 This immense family includes those usually separated 

 under the names EpeiriiLe and Linyphiida. 



9 1 . Meta segmentata, Clerclc. 



Duddon Vale ; Southport (O. P.-C), A. R. J. ; 

 Warrington (L. G.). 

 A very abundant spider in the summer and autumn 

 amongst nettles and other herbage along hedgerows. 

 The spiders vary very much in size, and spin an 

 orbicular web having a clear space in the centre, as do 

 others of the genus and also T etragnatha, thus differing 

 from the genus Araneus (Epeira). Known also as 

 Epeira segmentata, Epeira incRnata, Blackwall, and 

 Epeira meiigii, Blackwall. 



92. Meta meriana, Scopoli. 



Duddon Vale ; Southport (A. R. J.). 



A larger species, common in cellars and beneath the 

 overhanging rocks and steep damp banks throughout 

 the district. Known also as Epeira antriada, Walck- 

 enaer, and Epeira celata, Blackwall. 



93. Neiticu! ccllulanus, Clerck. 



Southport (A. R. J.). 



94. Singa pygmiea, Sundevall. 



Kirkby, Rev. J. H. Bloom (O. P.-C). 



95. Telrapiatha extensa, lAnnzai. 



Southport (O. P.-C.) ; Warrington (L.G.) ; Dud- 

 don Vale. 

 A very common species of elongate form, which sits 

 in the centre of its web with legs stretched out in 

 front and behind. Not so entirely confined to marshy 

 localities as the next species, and easily recognized by 

 the silvery white bands under the abdomen. The 

 jaws in the males of this genus are very large and 

 strongly toothed. 



96. Tetragnatha sokndri, Scopoli. 



Grange ; Duddon Vale ; Southport (A R. J.). 

 \^ery similar in appearance to the last species, but 

 almost entirely confined to river banks and marshy 

 swamps. Can be recognized by the dull white bands 

 beneath the abdomen and the absence of any pale line 

 on the sternum. 



97. Pachygnatha clerckii, Sundevall. 



Duddon Vale ; Southport (O. P.-C, A. R. J.). 

 Resembles a Tetragnatha in the possession of very 

 large mandibles, but is not elongate and spins no web 

 to speak of Found under leaves and at the roots of 

 herbage, especially in marshy places. 



98. Pachygnatha Fisteri, Sundevall. 



Warrington (L. G.) ; Southport (A. R. J.). 

 Very similar to the last two species, but of a dark 

 claret-red tint. Found usually amongst dead leaves 

 in woods. 



99. Zilla x-notata, Clerck. 



Warrington (L. G.) ; Duddon Vale ; Southport 

 (O. P.-C, A. R. J.). 



A very common spider, usually spinning its web on 

 or in the proximity of buildings. The web has 

 usually a vacant wedge-shaped piece with a single free 

 ray from the centre. Known also as Epeira similii, 

 Blackwall. 



100. Zilla atrica, C L. Koch. 



Duddon Vale ; Southport (O. P.-C, A. R. J.) ; 

 Warrington (L. G.). 



Almost as common as the above, but more usually 

 confined to the foliage of trees and bushes, though 

 often found on the walls of the fell districts. The 

 males have a very long palpus, while in Z. x-notata 

 these are very short. Known also as Epeira callophylla, 

 Blackwall. 



10 1. Araneus cucurbitinus, Clerck. 



Warrington (L. G.) ; Southport (O. P.-C, 

 A. R. J.) ; Duddon Vale. 



A beautiful green spider with bright red tip to the 

 tail end, rendering it in appearance like the bud of a 

 flower. Known also as Epeira eucurbitina. 



102. Araneus diodematus, Clerck. 



Warrington (L.G.) ; Southport (O. P.-C, A.R.J.) ; 



Coniston. 



By far the commonest of our spiders, being usually 

 known as the ' garden spider,' of large size, red- 

 brown and black with white lozenge-shaped spots, 

 spinning an orb-web. Known also as Epeira diadema 

 or diadcmata. 



103. Araneus quadratus, Clerck. 



Southport (O. P.-C, A. R. J.) ; Warrington 

 (L.G.). 



A common spider in October on most heathy 

 commons, where it spins a strong orb-web and makes 

 a tent for concealment under the heather or gorse. 

 Its food consists chiefly of the common honey-bees, and 

 in colour it is warm pink with green shading and 

 four large white spots on the back of the abdomen. 

 Known also as Epeira quadrata. 



104. Araneus cornutus, Clerck. 



Duddon Vale ; Manchester, Liverpool (L.G.) ; 

 Southport (O. P.-C, A. R. J.). 



Abundant in the rushes and grass-heads near streams 

 or in swampy places. Known also as Epeira comula 

 and Epeira apodisa, Blackwall. 



105. Araneus umbraticus, Clerck. 



Warrington (L. G.) ; Southport (A. R. J.). 



A large species, nearly black and much flattened, 

 for it lives under the bark of trees and posts, spinning 

 a strong orb-web and venturing out of its lurking 

 place only at nightfall. Known also as Epeira um- 

 bratica. 



106. Araneus redii, Scopoli. 



Southport (O. P.-C). 



Common in the heather districts in June and 

 July. Known also as Epeira sellers, Walckenaer, and 

 Epeira solers, Blackwall. 



150 



