SPIDERS 



THERIDIIDAE 



The members of this family have eight eyes 

 situated very much like those of the Argyopidae, 

 but the mandibles are usually weak, the maxillae 

 are inclined over the labium, and the posterior legs 

 have a comb of stiff curved spines beneath the tarsi. 

 The web consists of a tangle of crossing lines, and 

 the spider often constructs a tent-like retreat where 

 the egg-sac is hung up. 



98. Theridion lineatum, Linnaeus. 



Salcombe (T. R. R. S.). 

 Known also as Phyllonethis lineata and under the 

 specific name ovata. 



99. Steatoda rifaria, Blackwall. 



Clearbrook (G. C. B.). 

 Rare and local. This interesting species has been 

 found in several parts of England, and as its name 

 implies it is usually to be found under overhanging 

 banks. Here it weaves the usual tangled web peculiar 

 to the family, having, as has also its near kinsman 

 formosa, a long tent-like retreat, beautifully constructed 

 of silk, sand, dry twigs, etc., often much resembling 

 the case of the caddis-worm in general appearance. 

 A detailed account of its habits has been given in 

 Science Gossip. Known also under Theridion. 



100. Steatoda tepidariorum, C.L. Koch. 

 (O. P.-C.) 



This large species is one of the commonest 

 spiders in conservatories and greenhouses, where the 

 curious triangular-shaped female may be seen hang- 

 ing with legs closely gathered to the body in the 

 middle of the tangled web. Sometimes, but not 

 often, a few chips of dry leaf fallen into the web may 

 be utilized as a sort of apology for a tent-like retreat, 

 constructed in the case of T. formosum with such 

 elaborate skill. When prey of any kind falls into 

 the toils the spider hurries down, and with the 

 tarsal comb on the fourth pair of legs commences 

 kicking out from the spinners a silken fluid, often 

 quite moist like treacle, which strikes against and 

 hardens on the victims. In this way very large spiders, 

 beetles, and wood-lice are ensnared and converted 

 into food. With a rapid and irritable movement of 

 the fore-legs also small tufts of fine silk are gathered 

 and flung promiscuously over the web. The male, a 

 much smaller spider, may often also be seen hanging 

 near at hand in the web, and the one or more brown 

 pear-shaped egg-sacs also hanging in the upper part 

 of the toil. Sometimes these spiders are found out- 

 side the houses, but rarely, if ever, amongst the shrubs 

 in the open garden. Known also under Theridion. 



10 1. Steatoda varians, Hahn. 

 Bickleigh ; Cann Wood (G. C. B.). 



A very much smaller species, varying considerably 

 in colour, found abundantly in greenhouses and 



also amongst shrubs in the open garden. This 

 species makes no tent-like retreat, but sits close to the 

 one or more pale rounded egg-sacs usually spun up 

 against a beam or window sill. Known also under 

 Theridion. 



102. Steatoda denticulatum, Walckenaer. 

 Bickleigh (G. C. B.). 



Also a very small and abundant species, occurring 

 on the outside of windows and outhouses and also on 

 walls and palings. It makes no tent-like retreat, and 

 the habits are very similar to those of the last species. 

 Known also under Theridion. 



103. Steatoda siiyphium, Clerck. 



Ivybridge ; Horrabridge ; Langstone (G. C. B.). 

 Very common on gorse and holly bushes, where 

 they construct a tent-like domicile and spin up within 

 its shelter the small greenish egg-sacs. The young 

 when hatched pass also their earlier days within the 

 tent, but on the death of the mother spider they 

 scatter, taking up positions for themselves among the 

 neighbouring foliage. Known also as Theridion ner- 

 vosum, Blackwall. 



104.. Steatoda bimaculata, lA-an!ie.v&. 



Wembury (G. C. B.) ; Salcombe (T. R. R. S.). 

 Known also as Theridion caroRnum, Blackwall, and 

 T. bimaculatum. The males can be recognized by the 

 sharp spur on the coxa of the fourth pair of legs. 



105. Steatoda pattens, Blackwall. 

 Horrabridge ; Bickleigh (G. C. B.). 



This minute Theridioid, pale yellow in colour, with 

 often a dark or paler dorsal spot on the abdomen, 

 lives beneath the leaves of shrubs and trees, laurel, elm, 

 lime, etc., where it spins its minute pear-shaped pure- 

 white egg-sac, which rests on its larger end, and has 

 several other small cusps towards the small sharp- 

 pointed stalk. Known also under Theridion. 



106. Steatoda vittata. 

 Bickleigh (G. C. B). 



Known also as Theridion pulcheUum, Walckenaer. 



107. Episinus truncatus, Walckenaer. 

 Starcross (G. C. B.). 



Known also as Theridion angulatum, Blackwall. 



1 08. Teutana noiilis, Thorell. 

 Torquay (Hamlet Clark, O. P.-C). 



Known also as Steatoda clarkii. 



109. Asagena phalerata. Panzer. 

 (O. P.-C). 



Known also as Theridion sifftatum, Blackwall. 



DICTYNIDAE 



The spiders belonging to this family possess three tarsal 

 claws, and the eyes, eight in number, are situated in 

 two transverse rows, the lateral being in contact. The 

 cribellum (or extra pair of spinning organs) and the 



calamistrum (a row of curving bristles on the protarsi 

 of the fourth pair of legs) are present in all members 

 of the family. They construct a tubular retreat with 

 an outer sheet of webbing, which is covered with a 



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