Occasional notes. No. II. Ova-sacs of Arachnura trilobata, Urq.
Abstract
In the early part of May of this year, Mr. W. F. Howlett, of Eketahuma, New Zealand, presented to the Trustees of this Museum, a spray, measuring about 10 inches in length, containing a large series of cocoons or ova-sacs of a spider, Arachnura trilibata[sic—Editor, Nov. 2008], Urq., which species occurs also in Tasmania.
In his letter, dated May 2, 1916, Mr. Howlett says:— "A friend handed me enclosed, apparently the egg-cocoons of a social spider… He says the spiders have all gone away now … I opened one cocoon and found it full of well developed spiders … My friend says the spiders had a very large web 'right across the track.'" In a further letter, dated June 2, 1916, Mr. Howlett says :— "It is 'social,' and of course makes geometric webs."
The species is described by Urquhart as being 9.5 mm. long in the female, and 5 mm. in the male. …
