Theridiidae, also known as the tangle-web spiders, cobweb spiders and comb-footed spiders, is a large family of araneomorph

spider Spiders (order (biology), order Araneae) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight limbs, chelicerae with fangs generally able to inject venom, and spinnerets that extrude spider silk, silk. They are the largest order of arachnids and ran ...

s first described by

Carl Jakob Sundevall Carl Jakob Sundevall (22 October 1801 in Högestad – 2 February 1875) was a Sweden, Swedish zoologist. Sundevall studied at Lund University, where he received a Ph.D. in 1823. After traveling to East Asia, he studied medicine, graduating as a ...

in 1833. This diverse, globally distributed family includes over 3,000

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

in 124

genera Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family as used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial s ...

, and is the most common arthropod found in human dwellings throughout the world. Theridiid

s are both entelegyne, meaning that the females have a genital plate, and ecribellate, meaning that they spin sticky capture silk instead of woolly silk. They have a comb of serrated

bristle A bristle is a stiff hair or feather (natural or artificial), either on an animal, such as a pig, a plant, or on a tool such as a brush or broom. Synthetic types Synthetic materials such as nylon are also used to make bristles in items such as b ...

s (

seta In biology, setae (; seta ; ) are any of a number of different bristle- or hair-like structures on living organisms. Animal setae Protostomes Depending partly on their form and function, protostome setae may be called macrotrichia, chaetae, ...

e) on the tarsus of the fourth leg. The family includes some model organisms for research, including the medically important widow spiders. They are important to studies characterizing their venom and its clinical manifestation, but widow spiders are also used in research on spider silk and sexual biology, including

sexual cannibalism Sexual cannibalism is when an animal, usually the female, Cannibalism, cannibalizes its mate prior to, during, or after Copulation (zoology), copulation. This trait is observed in many arachnid orders, several insect and crustacean clades, Gastro ...

. '' Anelosimus'' are also model organisms, used for the study of sociality, because it has evolved frequently within the genus, allowing comparative studies across species, and because it contains species varying from solitary to permanently social. These spiders are also a promising model for the study of inbreeding because all permanently social species are highly inbred. The

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; ) is an island U.S. state, state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two Non-contiguous United States, non-contiguous U.S. states (along with Alaska), it is the only sta ...

an '' Theridion grallator'' is used as a model to understand the selective forces and the genetic basis of color polymorphism within species. ''T. grallator'' is known as the "happyface" spider, as certain morphs have a pattern resembling a smiley face or a grinning

clown A clown is a person who performs physical comedy and arts in an Improvisational theatre#Comedy, open-ended fashion, typically while wearing distinct cosmetics, makeup or costume, costuming and reversing social norm, folkway-norms. The art of ...

face on their yellow body.

Webs

They often build tangle space

web Web most often refers to: * Spider web, a silken structure created by the animal * World Wide Web or the Web, an Internet-based hypertext system Web, WEB, or the Web may also refer to: Computing * WEB, a literate programming system created by ...

s, hence the common name, but Theridiidae has a large diversity of

spider web A spider web, spiderweb, spider's web, or cobweb (from the archaic word ''Wikt:coppe, coppe'', meaning 'spider') is a structure created by a spider out of proteinaceous spider silk extruded from its spinnerets, generally meant to catch its prey ...

forms. Many trap

ant Ants are Eusociality, eusocial insects of the Family (biology), family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the Taxonomy (biology), order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from Vespoidea, vespoid wasp ancestors in the Cre ...

s and other ground dwelling

insect Insects (from Latin ') are Hexapoda, hexapod invertebrates of the class (biology), class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body (Insect morphology#Head, head, ...

s using elastic, sticky

silk Silk is a natural fiber, natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be weaving, woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is most commonly produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoon (silk), c ...

trap lines leading to the soil surface. Webs remain in place for extended periods and are expanded and repaired, but no regular pattern of web replacement has been observed. The well studied kleptoparasitic members of

Argyrodinae Argyrodinae is a subfamily comb-footed spiders known for being kleptoparasitic. Taxonomy Argyrodinae contains the following genera: * '' Deelemanella'' * '' Argyrodella'' * ''Faiditus'' * '' Rhinoliparus'' * '' Spheropistha'' * '' Rhinocosmetus ...

(''

Argyrodes The genus name is a combination of the Ancient Greek " argyros" (), meaning "silver", and the suffix "-odes", meaning "like". ''Argyrodes'', also called dewdrop spiders, is a genus of comb-footed spiders that was first described by Eugène Louis ...

'', ''

Faiditus ''Faiditus'' is a genus of comb-footed spiders that was first described by Eugen von Keyserling in 1884. Species it contains fifty-nine species, all found in the Americas except for ''F. xiphias'', found in Asia: *'' F. acuminatus'' (Keyserli ...

'', and ''

Neospintharus ''Neospintharus'' is a genus of comb-footed spiders that was first described by H. Exline in 1950. It was synonymized with '' Argyrodes'' in 1962, but revalidated in 2004. Species it contains thirteen species, found in the Caribbean, South Amer ...

'') live in the webs of larger spiders and pilfer small prey caught by their host's web. They eat prey killed by the host spider, consume silk from the host web, and sometimes attack and eat the host itself. Theridiid gumfoot-webs consist of frame lines that anchor them to surroundings and of support threads, which possess viscid silk. These can either have a central retreat ('' Achaearanea''-type) or a peripheral retreat (''Latrodectus''-type). Building gum-foot lines is a unique, stereotyped behaviour, and is likely homologous for Theridiidae and its sister family Nesticidae. Among webs without gumfooted lines, some contain viscid silk ('' Theridion''-type) and some that are sheet-like, which do not contain viscid silk ('' Coleosoma''-type). However, there are many undescribed web forms.

Genera

The largest genus is '' Theridion'' with over 600 species, but it is not

monophyletic In biological cladistics for the classification of organisms, monophyly is the condition of a taxonomic grouping being a clade – that is, a grouping of organisms which meets these criteria: # the grouping contains its own most recent co ...

. '' Parasteatoda'', previously '' Achaearanea'', is another large genus that includes the North American common house spider. , the

World Spider Catalog The World Spider Catalog (WSC) is an online searchable database concerned with spider taxonomy. It aims to list all accepted families, genera and species, as well as provide access to the related taxonomic literature. The WSC began as a series of ...

accepts the following genera: *'' Achaearanea'' Strand, 1929 – Africa, Asia, Australia, South America, Central America *'' Achaearyopa'' Barrion & Litsinger, 1995 – Philippines *'' Achaeridion'' Wunderlich, 2008 – Turkey *'' Allothymoites'' Ono, 2007 – China, Japan *'' Ameridion'' Wunderlich, 1995 – Central America, Caribbean, Mexico, South America *'' Anatea'' Berland, 1927 – Australia *'' Anatolidion'' Wunderlich, 2008 – Africa, Europe, Turkey *'' Anelosimus'' Simon, 1891 – Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Oceania, Central America, Caribbean *'' Argyrodella'' Saaristo, 2006 – Seychelles *''

'' Simon, 1864 – Africa, Asia, Oceania, North America, South America, Jamaica *'' Ariamnes'' Thorell, 1869 – Costa Rica, South America, Asia, Africa, Oceania, Mexico, Cuba *'' Asagena'' Sundevall, 1833 – North America, Asia, Europe, Algeria *'' Asygyna'' Agnarsson, 2006 – Madagascar *'' Audifia'' Keyserling, 1884 – Guinea-Bissau, Congo, Brazil *'' Bardala'' Saaristo, 2006 – Seychelles *'' Borneoridion'' Deeleman & Wunderlich, 2011 – Indonesia *'' Brunepisinus'' Yoshida & Koh, 2011 – Brunei *'' Cabello'' Levi, 1964 – Venezuela *'' Cameronidion'' Wunderlich, 2011 – Malaysia *'' Campanicola'' Yoshida, 2015 – Asia *'' Canalidion'' Wunderlich, 2008 – Russia *'' Carniella'' Thaler & Steinberger, 1988 – Europe, Angola, Asia *'' Cephalobares'' O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871 – Sri Lanka, China *'' Cerocida'' Simon, 1894 – Brazil, Venezuela, Guyana *'' Chikunia'' Yoshida, 2009 – Asia *'' Chorizopella'' Lawrence, 1947 – South Africa *'' Chrosiothes'' Simon, 1894 – North America, South America, Central America, Caribbean, Asia *''

Chrysso ''Chrysso'' is a genus of Theridiidae, comb-footed spiders that was first described by Octavius Pickard-Cambridge in 1882. ''C. pulcherrima'' is pantropical, ''C. spiniventris'' has been introduced to Europe, and ''C. nordica'' occurs both in Nor ...

'' O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1882 – North America, South America, Central America, Asia, Trinidad, Europe *'' Coleosoma'' O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1882 – United States, South America, Seychelles, Asia, New Zealand *'' Coscinida'' Simon, 1895 – Asia, Africa *'' Craspedisia'' Simon, 1894 – Brazil *'' Crustulina'' Menge, 1868 – Ukraine, United States, Africa, Oceania, Asia *'' Cryptachaea'' Archer, 1946 – South America, North America, Oceania, Central America, Asia, Trinidad, Belgium *'' Cyllognatha'' L. Koch, 1872 – Samoa, Australia, India *'' Deelemanella'' Yoshida, 2003 – Indonesia *'' Dipoena'' Thorell, 1869 – North America, Oceania, Asia, Central America, South America, Caribbean, Africa, Europe *'' Dipoenata'' Wunderlich, 1988 – Panama, South America, Malta *'' Dipoenura'' Simon, 1909 – Asia, Sierra Leone *'' Echinotheridion'' Levi, 1963 – South America *'' Emertonella'' Bryant, 1945 – North America, Asia, Papua New Guinea *'' Enoplognatha'' Pavesi, 1880 – Asia, Europe, Australia, Africa, North America, South America *'' Episinus'' Walckenaer, 1809 – Asia, South America, Europe, North America, New Zealand, Central America, Africa, Caribbean *'' Euryopis'' Menge, 1868 – Asia, North America, South America, Jamaica, Europe, Oceania, Africa, Panama *'' Eurypoena'' Wunderlich, 1992 – Canary Is. *'' Exalbidion'' Wunderlich, 1995 – Central America, South America, Mexico *''

'' Keyserling, 1884 – South America, North America, Central America, Caribbean, Asia *'' Gmogala'' Keyserling, 1890 – Papua New Guinea, Australia *'' Grancanaridion'' Wunderlich, 2011 – Canary Is. *'' Guaraniella'' Baert, 1984 – Brazil, Paraguay *'' Hadrotarsus'' Thorell, 1881 – Oceania, Belgium, Taiwan *'' Helvibis'' Keyserling, 1884 – South America, Panama, Trinidad *'' Helvidia'' Thorell, 1890 – Indonesia *'' Hentziectypus'' Archer, 1946 – Caribbean, Panama, North America, South America *'' Heterotheridion'' Wunderlich, 2008 – Turkey, Russia, China *'' Hetschkia'' Keyserling, 1886 – Brazil *'' Histagonia'' Simon, 1895 – South Africa *'' Icona'' Forster, 1955 – New Zealand *'' Jamaitidion'' Wunderlich, 1995 – Jamaica *'' Janula'' Strand, 1932 – Asia, South America, Australia, Panama, Trinidad *'' Keijiella'' Yoshida, 2016 – Asia *'' Kochiura'' Archer, 1950 – Chile, Turkey, Brazil *'' Landoppo'' Barrion & Litsinger, 1995 – Philippines *'' Lasaeola'' Simon, 1881 – Europe, North America, Panama, South America, Asia *''

Latrodectus ''Latrodectus'' is a broadly distributed genus of spiders with several species that are commonly known as the true widows. This group is composed of those often loosely called black widow spiders, brown widow spiders, and similar spiders. However ...

'' Walckenaer, 1805 – South America, North America, Asia, Europe, Oceania, Africa *'' Macaridion'' Wunderlich, 1992 – Europe *'' Magnopholcomma'' Wunderlich, 2008 – Australia *'' Meotipa'' Simon, 1894 – Asia, Papua New Guinea *'' Molione'' Thorell, 1892 – Asia *''

Moneta In Roman mythology, Moneta (Latin Monēta) was a title given to two separate goddesses: It was the name of the goddess of memory (identified with the Greek mythology, Greek goddess Mnemosyne), and it was an epithet of Juno (mythology), Juno, ca ...

'' O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871 – Oceania, Asia, Seychelles *'' Montanidion'' Wunderlich, 2011 – Malaysia *'' Nanume'' Saaristo, 2006 – Seychelles *'' Neopisinus'' Marques, Buckup & Rodrigues, 2011 – Panama, Caribbean, South America, North America *''

'' Exline, 1950 – North America, Asia, South America, Central America *'' Neottiura'' Menge, 1868 – Asia, Europe, Algeria *'' Nesopholcomma'' Ono, 2010 – Japan *'' Nesticodes'' Archer, 1950 – Asia, New Zealand *'' Nihonhimea'' Yoshida, 2016 – Asia, Seychelles, Oceania, Mexico *'' Nipponidion'' Yoshida, 2001 – Japan *'' Nojimaia'' Yoshida, 2009 – China, Japan *'' Ohlertidion'' Wunderlich, 2008 – Greenland, Russia *'' Okumaella'' Yoshida, 2009 – Japan *'' Paidiscura'' Archer, 1950 – Europe, Algeria, Asia *'' Parasteatoda'' Archer, 1946 – Asia, Oceania, Cuba, North America, Argentina, Seychelles *'' Paratheridula'' Levi, 1957 – United States, Chile *'' Pholcomma'' Thorell, 1869 – Oceania, North America, Asia, South America *'' Phoroncidia'' Westwood, 1835 – Asia, Africa, North America, Caribbean, South America, Oceania, Europe, Costa Rica *'' Phycosoma'' O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1879 – North America, Asia, Africa, Jamaica, Panama, Brazil, New Zealand *'' Phylloneta'' Archer, 1950 – Asia, United States, Spain *'' Platnickina'' Koçak & Kemal, 2008 – North America, Asia, Africa *'' Proboscidula'' Miller, 1970 – Angola, Rwanda *'' Propostira'' Simon, 1894 – India, Sri Lanka *'' Pycnoepisinus'' Wunderlich, 2008 – Kenya *'' Rhomphaea'' L. Koch, 1872 – Asia, Africa, South America, Oceania, North America, Europe, Central America, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines *'' Robertus'' O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1879 – Europe, North America, Asia, Congo *'' Ruborridion'' Wunderlich, 2011 – India *'' Rugathodes'' Archer, 1950 – Asia, North America *'' Sardinidion'' Wunderlich, 1995 – Africa, Europe *'' Selkirkiella'' Berland, 1924 – Chile, Argentina *'' Sesato'' Saaristo, 2006 – Seychelles *'' Seycellesa'' Koçak & Kemal, 2008 – Seychelles *'' Simitidion'' Wunderlich, 1992 – Europe, Asia, Canada *'' Spheropistha'' Yaginuma, 1957 – Japan, China *'' Spinembolia'' Saaristo, 2006 – Seychelles *'' Spintharus'' Hentz, 1850 – Pakistan, Caribbean, Mexico, Brazil *'' Steatoda'' Sundevall, 1833 – Oceania, North America, Asia, Europe, South America, Africa *'' Stemmops'' O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1894 – South America, North America, Central America, Caribbean, Asia *'' Stoda'' Saaristo, 2006 – Seychelles *'' Styposis'' Simon, 1894 – United States, South America, Central America, Congo *'' Takayus'' Yoshida, 2001 – Asia *'' Tamanidion'' Wunderlich, 2011 – Malaysia *'' Tekellina'' Levi, 1957 – United States, Brazil, Asia *'' Theonoe'' Simon, 1881 – Tanzania, Europe, North America *'' Theridion'' Walckenaer, 1805 – Asia, North America, Central America, Europe, South America, Africa, Oceania, Caribbean *'' Theridula'' Emerton, 1882 – Spain, Africa, North America, Central America, Asia, South America *'' Thwaitesia'' O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1881 – Panama, South America, Africa, Asia, Oceania, Trinidad *'' Thymoites'' Keyserling, 1884 – South America, Central America, Asia, North America, Caribbean, Greenland, Tanzania *'' Tidarren'' Chamberlin & Ivie, 1934 – Africa, Yemen, North America, Argentina, Costa Rica *'' Tomoxena'' Simon, 1895 – Indonesia, India *'' Wamba'' O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1896 – North America, South America, Panama *'' Wirada'' Keyserling, 1886 – Mexico, South America *'' Yaginumena'' Yoshida, 2002 – Asia *'' Yoroa'' Baert, 1984 – Papua New Guinea, Australia *'' Yunohamella'' Yoshida, 2007 – Asia, Europe *'' Zercidium'' Benoit, 1977 – St. Helena About 35

extinct Extinction is the termination of an organism by the death of its Endling, last member. A taxon may become Functional extinction, functionally extinct before the death of its last member if it loses the capacity to Reproduction, reproduce and ...

genera have also been placed in the family. The oldest known stem-group member of the family is '' Cretotheridion'' from the

Cenomanian The Cenomanian is, in the International Commission on Stratigraphy's (ICS) geological timescale, the oldest or earliest age (geology), age of the Late Cretaceous epoch (geology), Epoch or the lowest stage (stratigraphy), stage of the Upper Cretace ...

aged

Burmese amber Burmese amber, also known as Burmite or Kachin amber, is amber from the Hukawng Valley in northern Myanmar. The amber is dated to around 100 million years ago, during the latest Albian to earliest Cenomanian ages of the mid-Cretaceous period. Th ...

of Myanmar.

References

External links

Tree of Life: Theridiidae

Theridiidae research
{{Authority control Extant Cretaceous first appearances Araneomorphae families

Webs

Genera

See also

References

Further reading

External links