Scaffold web spiders or cave cobweb spiders (Nesticidae) are a family of

araneomorph The Araneomorphae (also called the Labidognatha or "true spiders") are an infraorder of spiders. They are distinguishable by chelicerae (fangs) that point diagonally forward and cross in a pinching action, in contrast to the Mygalomorphae (taran ...

spiders closely allied with tangle-web spiders (Theridiidae). Like the Theridiidae, these spiders have a comb of serrated bristles on the hind tarsi that are used to pull silk bands from the spinnerets. Nesticidae contains 16 genera and about 300 species, many of which are associated with caves or overhangs. The genus '' Nesticus'' is the type for the family and is found throughout the world. The related '' Eidmannella'' has speciated considerably in Texas caves and includes some extremely localized species that are considered threatened. One species, ''Eidmannella pallida'', is found in caves and under overhangs, but also in agricultural fields and other habitats away from such restricted areas. The genus '' Carpathonesticus'' is found in central Eurasia.

Genera

, 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: *'' Aituaria'' Esyunin & Efimik, 1998 — Ukraine, Russia, Georgia *'' Canarionesticus'' Wunderlich, 1992 — Canary Is. *'' Carpathonesticus'' Lehtinen & Saaristo, 1980 — Europe, Asia *'' Cyclocarcina'' Komatsu, 1942 — Japan *'' Daginesticus'' Fomichev, Ballarin & Marusik, 2022 — Russia, Georgia *'' Domitius'' Ribera, 2018 — Spain, Portugal, Italy *'' Eidmannella'' Roewer, 1935 — North America, Spain, Japan *'' Howaia'' Lehtinen & Saaristo, 1980 — Asia, Europe, St. Helena, Pacific Islands *'' Kryptonesticus'' Pavlek & Ribera, 2017 — Europe, New Zealand *'' Nesticella'' Lehtinen & Saaristo, 1980 — Asia, Africa, Oceania, Brazil *'' Nesticus'' Thorell, 1869 — Asia, Africa, Cuba, North America, South America, Europe *'' Pseudonesticus'' Liu & Li, 2013 — China *'' Sacarum'' Esyunin & Efimik, 2022 — Russia *'' Speleoticus'' Ballarin & Li, 2016 — China, Japan *'' Typhlonesticus'' Kulczyński, 1914 — Europe *'' Wraios'' Ballarin & Li, 2015 — China The following extinct genera have been placed in the Nesticidae: *†'' Balticonesticus'' Wunderlich, 1986 –

Palaeogene The Paleogene Period ( ; also spelled Palaeogene or Palæogene) is a geologic period and system that spans 43 million years from the end of the Cretaceous Period Ma (million years ago) to the beginning of the Neogene Period Ma. It is the fir ...

Baltic amber Baltic amber or succinite is amber from the Baltic region, home of its largest known deposits. It was produced sometime during the Eocene epoch, but exactly when is controversial. It has been estimated that this forested region provided the re ...

*†'' Eopopino'' Petrunkevitch, 1942 – Palaeogene, Baltic and

Bitterfeld Bitterfeld () is a town in the district of Anhalt-Bitterfeld, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 July 2007 it has been part of the town of Bitterfeld-Wolfen. It is situated approximately 25 km south of Dessau, and 30 km northeast of Hall ...

amber *†'' Heteronesticus'' Wunderlich, 1986 – Palaeogene, Baltic amber *†'' Hispanonesticus'' Wunderlich, 1986 –

Neogene The Neogene ( ,) is a geologic period and system that spans 20.45 million years from the end of the Paleogene Period million years ago ( Mya) to the beginning of the present Quaternary Period million years ago. It is the second period of th ...

, Dominican amber

References

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Genera

See also

References