No. 13 — The Genus Micrathena (Araneae, Argiopidae) in Central America By Arthur M. Chickering The genus Micrathena Sundevall, 1833 with its numerous species, more or less conspicuous webbing, and often gaudy color-ation constitutes an important segment of the arthropod fauna of Central America. For more than thirty years, during repeated visits to Panama and nearby regions, I have been collecting mem-bers of this genus with the intention of publishing the results of my study of all species appearing in my collections. Upon the advice of other araneologists I have recently extended my study to include the whole of Central America. In order to aid me in this work all specimens of the genus in the Museum of Com-parative Zoology at Harvard College have been turned over to me for study. During the summer of 1958, while on a fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, I was able to work on the extensive collections in the British Museum (Natural History) where I had access to most of the material which furnished the basis for the work of the two Pickard-Cam-bridges published in the Biologia Centrali-Americana. A few days were also spent in the Oxford University Museum where a portion of the Pickard-Cambridge collection is kept. Acknowledgements are due and gratefully rendered to the fol-lowing named individuals and organizations for their numerous courtesies, support, and encouragement of my work for many years: The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation for its financial aid during two successive years ; Dr. G. Owen Evans, Department of Zoology, British Museum (Natural History), and his staff of co-workers all of whom gave me very friendly encouragement and the loan of important specimens for the pursuit of my work; Professor G. C. Varley and his staff of co-workers at the Oxford University Museum who gave me access to valuable specimens for a brief period and then extended ma-terial on loan as a further aid ; Dr. A. S. Romer, Director, Dr. P. J. Darlington, Jr., Curator of Insects, Dr. Herbert W. Levi, Associate Curator of Arachnology, and Miss Nelda E. Wright, Editor of Publications, all of the staff of the Museum of Com-parative Zoology at Harvard College. The problem of evolution and interspecific relationships in the genus Micrathena are exceedingly interesting, often complex, baffling, and difficult to trace. Females tend to exhibit a high
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