Ceraticelus laetabilis is a dwarf spider in the Linyphiidae, found in the United States and Canada. Two are recognized: C. l. laetabilis and C. l. pisga. As a member of the Erigoninae, it belongs to a group of small spiders commonly known as dwarf spiders or money spiders.
Identification
Identification to level requires examination of genitalic characters. The Ceraticelus belongs to the Erigoninae, distinguished from the Linyphiinae (sheetweb spiders) by morphological features of the male and female . C. l. laetabilis and C. l. pisga are distinguished by subtle morphological differences, with pisga described from North Carolina.
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Distribution
Recorded from the United States and Canada. Canadian records include Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario.
Similar Taxa
- Florinda (genus)Both are small, brightly colored Linyphiidae that can appear superficially similar; Florinda belongs to Linyphiinae (sheetweb spiders) while Ceraticelus is in Erigoninae (dwarf spiders), requiring careful examination of arrangement and genitalic structures to distinguish.
- Hypsosinga (genus)Small, brightly colored spiders that may be mistaken for each other; Hypsosinga is in Araneidae (orb weavers) and builds orb webs, whereas Ceraticelus is a non-orb-weaving Linyphiidae.
More Details
Subspecies
Two are recognized: Ceraticelus laetabilis laetabilis (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1874) and Ceraticelus laetabilis pisga Chamberlin, 1949. The latter was described from Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina.