Argyrodinae
Guides
Neospintharus
Neospintharus is a genus of comb-footed spiders in the family Theridiidae, subfamily Argyrodinae. First described by Exline in 1950, it was synonymized with Argyrodes in 1962 but revalidated in 2004. Phylogenetic studies confirm it as sister group to Rhomphaea within monophyletic Argyrodinae. The genus comprises free-living species that are not kleptoparasitic, distinguishing them from other Argyrodinae genera.
Rhomphaea
Stretched Thief Spiders
Rhomphaea is a genus of comb-footed spiders (Theridiidae) characterized by their distinctive elongated, stick-like bodies and specialized araneophagous predatory behavior. These small spiders (4–5 mm) are found worldwide and are notable for their aggressive mimicry tactics, using triangular nets to capture other spiders on their own webs or by invading the webs of other species. The genus is closely related to Ariamnes and is the sister group to Neospintharus within the subfamily Argyrodinae.
Spintharus
Spintharus is a genus of cobweb spiders (Theridiidae: Argyrodinae) established by Nicholas Marcellus Hentz in 1850. The genus ranges from the northeastern United States to Brazil, with the highest diversity in the Caribbean. A 2018 revision by Agnarsson and colleagues described fifteen new species, many named after celebrities and public figures, making Spintharus notable for having the most species named after celebrities of any spider genus. Molecular evidence indicates that what was historically considered a single widespread species, S. flavidus, actually represents a 30 million year old radiation of at least 16 short-range endemic species in the Caribbean region.