Emertonella
Bryant, 1945
Species Guides
1Emertonella is a of cobweb spiders in the Theridiidae, Hadrotarsinae, first described by E. B. Bryant in 1945. The genus was re-delimited in 2024 based on male palpal , transferring approximately 30 from the genus Euryopis. It now contains species distributed across Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America, and New Guinea.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Emertonella: //ˌɛmərtɒˈnɛlə//
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Identification
Distinguished from the related Euryopis by male palpal : the cymbium lacks a projection or bears only a small lamellar projection, whereas Euryopis males have a wide projection on the cymbium. This character was used to re-delimit the genus in 2024.
Images
Habitat
Specimens have been collected from forest and agricultural areas. In China, recorded from Henan Province at elevations of 70–1340 m.
Distribution
Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and New Guinea. Specific records include the United States, Mexico, Argentina, China (Henan, Hainan), India, Sri Lanka, Japan (Ryukyu Islands), and Papua New Guinea.
Seasonality
collected in July in Henan Province, China.
Similar Taxa
- EuryopisPreviously confused with Emertonella; distinguished by male palpal cymbium with wide projection versus small or absent projection in Emertonella.
More Details
Taxonomic history
The was significantly expanded in 2024 when 30 were transferred from Euryopis to Emertonella based on phylogenetic and morphological analysis of male genitalia.
Ant predation note
The Hadrotarsinae is generally regarded as specialized in the literature, though direct evidence for this feeding strategy in Emertonella specifically has not been documented.