These spiders vary in size like the species of Theridium, from a quarter
of an inch to a tenth of an inch long. In appearance they differ greatly
from Theridium; the cephalothorax is longer and higher in front, the
legs are long and slender, with distinct spines, and the abdomen is
sometimes a little flattened on the back as in Steatoda, but oftener
high in front and a little pointed toward the spinnerets. The sexes
differ little in size, but often in color and markings. The palpal
organs and the terminal joints of the palpi of the males are very large
and complicated, and in the smaller species form the best means of
distinguishing them. There are a great number of minute species of
Microneta, Bathyphantes, and other allied genera, but only the larger
and more common are here described.
[Illustration: FIG. 318. Web of Linyphia marginata. Half the real size.]
[Illustration: FIGS. 319, 320. Linyphia marginata.--319, female enlarged
eight times, showing markings of the back. 320, side of abdomen.]
$Linyphia marginata.$--This is one of the most common web spiders in
shady woods all through the summer. It is a sixth of an inch long, with
slender legs, the longest of which are usually half an inch. The
cephalothorax is two-thirds as wide as long, the middle of it brown and
the edges light. The abdomen is flat on top and widest and thickest
behind, the colors light yellow and purplish brown (fig. 319). In the
middle there is a dark stripe, consisting usually of three parts united
by a narrow line, and behind this is another dark spot. At the sides are
several dark stripes, the front ones lengthwise and the hinder vertical,
all connected with the dark color of the under side. The legs are light
yellow without markings, and the hairs and spines fine and not easily
seen. In the males all the colors are darker and the abdomen narrower,
with only a few light marks at the sides. This spider has no nest, but
lives all the time in the middle of its web. It matures in June, and the
young brood are common in their small webs in August and September.
[Illustration: FIG. 321. Beginning of a web of Linyphia marginata.]
The web of _L. marginata_ (fig. 318) is in the form of a dome four or
five inches in diameter, hung between rocks and plants, seldom much
concealed by leaves. The threads are fine, and the web so transparent
that it easily escapes notice unless the sun shines upon it. The meshes
are larger than in _L. phrygiana_ and other flat web-making species. The
depth and width of the dome depend somewhat on the shape of the opening
in which it is made, and the number and length of the supporting threads
vary according to the surroundings. The spider stands apparently all the
time under the top of the dome. Insects flying near touch the threads
above the dome and, their flight being broken, drop down among closer
threads and, finally, to the dome itself, where they are caught by the
spider and taken through the meshes. Remains of insects and other
rubbish are cut loose from the web and dropped. The webs seem to be used
for a long time, but if they are injured a new one is soon made, either
in the night or day, and the remains of several old webs are often seen
hanging flat and torn below a new one. The dome is begun at the top and
extended downward by inclined threads, an inch or two long, which are
crossed by shorter threads in all directions (fig. 321). The spider
works very rapidly, but I have never seen a dome finished, the spider
always working a few minutes and then resting a long time.
[Illustration: FIG. 322. Web of Linyphia communis between the branches
of a spruce tree. Half the real size.]
[Illustration: FIGS. 323, 324. Linyphia communis.--323, back of female
enlarged eight times. 324, profile of male.]
$Linyphia communis.$--A little smaller than _marginata_, with legs a
little shorter. The colors are the same light yellow and purplish brown,
but the markings are distinctly different. The cephalothorax is uniform
light brownish yellow. The middle stripe of the abdomen extends the
whole length of the upper side and connects with several narrow brown
stripes that extend down the sides (fig. 323). The abdomen is more
regularly oval and less enlarged behind than in _marginata_, but the
upper part extends back farther over the spinnerets. The under side is
dark brown. The male is smaller than the female, with the head higher
and the abdomen narrower. The palpi of the male are unusually small for
the genus (fig. 324). The web of _communis_ (fig. 322) consists of a
horizontal sheet, convex below and supported by threads above. Below
this, about an inch distant, is another sheet of web. Insects flying
between the upper threads fall down to the sheet below and are taken
through by the spider, as they are in the dome of _marginata_.
[Illustration: FIG. 325. Web of young Linyphia mandibulata in short
grass near the ground. About the real size.]
[Illustration: FIGS. 326, 327, 328, 329. Linyphia mandibulata.--326,
markings of abdomen of female enlarged eight times. 327, side of
abdomen. 328, cephalothorax and palpus of male. 329, mandibles of male.]
$Linyphia mandibulata.$--A little larger than _L. communis_ and
_marginata_, with the head longer and more distinct from the thorax, and
the abdomen larger and flattened on the top (figs. 326, 327). The length
is about a sixth of an inch. The cephalothorax is dark orange brown, and
the legs a lighter shade of the same color. The length of the legs is
about as in _communis_, shorter than _marginata_ and _phrygiana_. The
abdomen is dark brown, often almost black, with several white spots,
usually two across the front end and several others around the sides
(fig. 326), sometimes forming a complete light stripe around the middle.
In the males the abdomen is narrow, and the only markings are usually
the two spots on the front end. The cephalothorax of the male is long
and narrow; the head is extended forward, and the mandibles inclined
backward toward the maxillæ. The mandibles are more than half as long as
the cephalothorax and widened at the ends, with four teeth on the inner
corner (fig. 329). On the inner side of the mandibles, near the middle,
is a large blunt tooth.
The webs are flat and near the ground, on short grass and leaves and
across little hollows in the sod (fig. 325). The webs are not as large
as those of _phrygiana_, and the spider has no nest, but stands always
in the web and drops suddenly when alarmed. It lives all over the
eastern part of the country and resembles closely the _Linyphia pusilla_
of Europe.
[Illustration: FIGS. 330, 331. Linyphia coccinea.--330, female. 331,
male enlarged twelve times.]
$Linyphia coccinea.$--About a sixth of an inch long and bright red and
orange color. The size and length of legs are about the same as in
_communis_. The legs are light orange, the cephalothorax a deeper shade
of the same color, and the abdomen light red. The palpi have the ends
black, and the legs are sometimes streaked with black. The hinder middle
eyes are twice as large as the others and twice as far apart as the
front middle pair. The space between and around the middle eyes is
black. The top of the abdomen is a little flattened and extended back in
a blunt black point over the spinnerets (fig. 330). The male (fig. 331)
differs little from the female except in the more slender abdomen and
longer legs. The male palpi are as long as those of the female and only
a little thickened at the ends. The blackened point on the end of the
abdomen is less distinct in the male than the female. The web is a
little concave, not as deep as that of _marginata_ and with smaller
meshes. It is made among low plants. This is a common species in the
South.
[Illustration: FIG. 332. Web of Linyphia phrygiana in a barberry bush.
The spider stood under the upper part of the inclined sheet close to the
stem.]
[Illustration: FIGS. 333, 334. Linyphia phrygiana.--333, markings of
abdomen enlarged eight times. 334, palpus of male.]
$Linyphia phrygiana.$--This is one of the most common species and lives
both in the woods and around houses. It is larger than _marginata_ and
_communis_, measuring a fifth of an inch in length. The cephalothorax is
light yellow, with a black line in the middle, forked at the front end,
and another at the sides near the edge of the thorax. The legs are light
yellow, with a dark ring at the end of each joint and at the middle of
each tibia and metatarsus. The legs are also marked with dark spots,
especially on the femora, and the spines are black and conspicuous. The
abdomen is yellowish, with brown spots at the sides and beneath, and
along the middle of the back is a dark brown or red herring-bone stripe
(fig. 333). The head of the male is higher than that of the female and
has a crest of stiff hairs. The male palpi (fig. 334) have a long spur
on the patella and have the end small, like _communis_. The web (fig.
332) is a large flat sheet, sometimes over a foot across. A corner of it
usually runs under a stone or other hiding place, and here the spider
stands, often making a little tent in connection with the web.
[Illustration: FIG. 335. Linyphia trilineata.--Markings of abdomen
enlarged eight times.]
$Linyphia (Stemonyphantes) trilineata.$--About a quarter of an inch
long, with a large oval abdomen and comparatively short legs. The color
is light yellowish gray, the cephalothorax with three dark lines, and
the abdomen with three rows of dark spots partly connected in lines. The
legs are marked with dark rings on the ends and middle of the joints,
more distinctly on the under than on the upper side. The sternum is
light in the middle and black around the edge, and the abdomen has
irregular black spots at the sides and beneath. The male has longer legs
and wider thorax and smaller abdomen. It lives under stones and logs and
winters under leaves in the woods. It is common both in this country and
Europe.
[Illustration: FIGS. 336, 337, 338. Linyphia nebulosa.--336, male. 337,
female enlarged twelve times. 338, markings of back of abdomen.]
[Illustration: FIGS. 339, 340, 341. Linyphia nebulosa.--339, palpus of
male. 340, epigynum from below. 341, epigynum from the right side.]
$Linyphia (Bathyphantes) nebulosa.$--Length a sixth of an inch. Color
light brownish yellow, with gray markings (fig. 338). Some are almost
white, and others are dark, with the black spots covering a large part
of the body. The cephalothorax is dark on the edges and has a dark
middle stripe, forked toward the eyes. The abdomen has six or seven
pairs of irregular dark spots, more or less connected with a dark middle
line. The under side of abdomen and sternum have black spots which, in
dark individuals, run together, making these parts entirely black. The
legs have dark rings on the ends and middle of the femora and tibiæ.
The spines are long and darker than the skin. The epigynum is folded
twice, so that only part of it is seen extending out from the under side
of the abdomen (figs. 340, 341). The palpus of the male (fig. 339) has
large and complicated appendages at the end. In general shape it is
rounder than in the next species, and the angle at the base of the
tarsus is less prominent. This spider is common in cellars and other
damp and shady places about houses. It is common in Europe and is
perhaps imported. The web is flat, like that of _L. phrygiana_, and
often large for the size of the spider, sometimes covering a pail or box
a foot wide.
[Illustration: FIGS. 342, 343, 344. Linyphia minuta.--342, side of
abdomen of female. 343, epigynum. 344, end of palpus of male.]
$Linyphia (Bathyphantes) minuta.$--One-eighth of an inch long, a little
smaller than _nebulosa_. The cephalothorax is yellowish brown, darker at
the edges, but without any middle line. The dark markings of the abdomen
nearly cover it, so that it appears dark gray with light markings
instead of light with dark markings, as in _nebulosa_. The legs are
light brownish yellow, with dark rings on the ends and middle of the
femora and tibiæ. The epigynum is folded twice, as in _nebulosa_ (fig.
343). The male palpi (fig. 344) have a general resemblance to those of
_nebulosa_, but there are some distinct differences. The tarsal hook is
very large and has a longer and narrower point than _nebulosa_. The
tarsus has on the outer side near the base a conical point roughened
with short ridges. This is more prominent in this species than in
_nebulosa_. It lives in cellars and similar places often in company with
_nebulosa_.
[Illustration: FIGS. 345, 346, 347. Linyphia socialis.--345, markings of
back of abdomen enlarged eight times. 346, side of female. 347, front of
female showing eyes, mandibles, and palpi.]
$Linyphia (Drapetisca) socialis.$--This very distinct species is marked
with gray and white and is often found on the bark of trees without any
web. It is a tenth to an eighth of an inch in length. The cephalothorax
is white with black edges, a black spot in front under the eyes, and a
black mark in the middle, from which indistinct lines radiate toward the
edge. The abdomen is widest just behind the middle (fig. 345). It is
white, mottled with gray, and has a black stripe on each side and
several pairs of black spots in the middle, connected with a middle
line. The legs are white, with a gray ring at the end and middle of each
joint. The spines are long on the legs and palpi (fig. 347). The
mandibles have an oblique dark stripe and several long hairs in front
and a row of teeth in front of the claw. The epigynum (fig. 346) is
large and extends obliquely backward away from the abdomen and curves
inward again at the end. It lives all over the northern part of this
country and Europe, under leaves and sometimes on trees, where it is
occasionally found on the bark without any web.
[Illustration: FIGS. 348, 349, 350. Linyphia insignis.--348, female
enlarged twelve times. 349, side of abdomen of female. 350, epigynum.]
$Linyphia (Helophora) insignis.$--An eighth of an inch long, as long as
_socialis_, but more slender. The cephalothorax and legs are light
yellow, and the abdomen gray or white, sometimes without markings and
sometimes with gray stripes at the sides and two or three pairs of gray
marks across the hinder half (fig. 348). The cephalothorax of the male
is twice as wide across the middle as at the head. The legs are without
markings. The epigynum (fig. 350) is long and straight, extending
backward close to the abdomen for half its length. The tibia of the
palpal organ has a short, pointed process, extending directly outward
from the side (fig. 348). They live in flat webs among low plants.
[Illustration: FIGS. 351, 352, 353. Linyphia concolor.--351, end of
palpus of male. 352, side of epigynum. 353, epigynum from below.]
$Linyphia (Diplostyla) concolor.$--About a twelfth of an inch long, a
little smaller than _nigrina_, with long slender legs, and the abdomen
slightly pointed toward the spinnerets and not much larger than the
cephalothorax. The color is light yellow brown, the abdomen gray without
any markings. The epigynum (figs. 352, 353) has a long, slender,
flexible process on the outer edge that extends backward to the middle
of the abdomen, and under it is another shorter one not easily seen. The
tarsus of the male palpus (fig. 351) is longer and more tapering than
that of _nigrina_. Adults of both sexes are common under leaves in
winter all over the northern part of the country.
[Illustration: FIGS. 354, 355, 356, 357, 358. Linyphia nigrina.--354,
side of male. 355, markings of back of female. 356, end of palpus of
male. 357, 358, epigynum.]
$Linyphia (Diplostyla) nigrina.$--A tenth of an inch long. Cephalothorax
and legs light yellow brown. Abdomen dark gray or black, with five or
six transverse light markings, usually in the male and often in the
female broken into pairs of spots (fig. 355). The abdomen is high in
front and a little pointed behind (fig. 354). The epigynum (figs. 356,
357) has two flexible processes, one over the other, extending backward,
the tip of the inner one extending beyond the outer. The tarsus of the
male palpus (fig. 356) is short and truncated, with its tube twisted in
a circle around the end. It lives under leaves in winter.