Crustulina sticta
(O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1861)
Brownblack Cobweb Weaver
Crustulina sticta is a small cobweb spider in the Theridiidae, commonly known as the Brownblack Cobweb Weaver. It has a broad distribution across the Northern Hemisphere, occurring in North America, Europe, and Asia. The is part of a closely related to Steatoda, which includes spiders frequently mistaken for black widows. Available information on its is limited compared to better-studied relatives.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Crustulina sticta: //krʌˈstuːlɪnə ˈstɪktə//
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Identification
Crustulina sticta belongs to a distinguished from Steatoda by specific morphological features, though detailed diagnostic characters for this are not well-documented in available sources. The genus Crustulina is characterized by particular arrangements of and abdominal markings that separate it from the superficially similar Steatoda. Accurate identification to species level requires examination of specimens by an arachnologist.
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Distribution
North America; Europe; Turkey; Caucasus region; Russia (European Russia to Siberia and the Far East); Kazakhstan; Iran; Central Asia; China; Korea; Japan; Canary Islands
Similar Taxa
- Steatoda triangulosaSimilar size, preference for dark recesses, and cobweb construction; both are frequently encountered in human structures and belong to closely related within Theridiidae.
- Steatoda borealisShared characteristics and general body form; Crustulina and Steatoda are historically confused and require careful examination to distinguish.
More Details
Taxonomic History
The Crustulina was revised by Herbert W. Levi in 1957, who clarified its separation from Steatoda in North America, Central America, and the West Indies. This work remains a key reference for distinguishing these genera.