34 



CDiniiioii in eastern United States, is the Orange (Argiope 

 aurentiinn). Tliis ereatiire also sets one of the most regu- 

 larly g-raeeful webs for the ensnaring of its insect vic- 

 tims; the silken meshes are very closely stretched about the 

 center, making a firm base on which she often rests while 

 awaiting her prey. 



Sooner or later a blundering fly will be caught in its 

 threads or a grasshopper or locust will try to hop through 

 it. Unless the intruder be a bee or a wasp, Argiope will 

 immediately rush at it, grasj) it in her legs and commence 

 walking over it. meanwhile spinning a strong silken web 

 about it until it is ^■ery securely trussed up. This supply 



SpiJtTS qiiiL-kh poiiiicc upon ;».•;, \7.s" Hut b,\\v)h- iiiUiiiclcd in Ibeir nets. 

 Thcv arc swathed in sill: and liiiiig up until tlu-r are needed for liwi. 



