Cobweb-spider
Guides
Anelosimus analyticus
Anelosimus analyticus is a species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae. It was described by Chamberlin in 1924. The species is found in the United States and Mexico. It belongs to a genus that includes both solitary and subsocial species, though the social behavior of A. analyticus specifically has not been documented.
Argyrodes pluto
Argyrodes pluto is a species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae. It is found in the United States, Mexico, and Jamaica. Like other members of the genus Argyrodes, it is likely a kleptoparasite that lives on the webs of larger orb-weaving spiders, though specific behavioral observations for this species are not documented.
Asagena
Asagena is a genus of cobweb spiders (family Theridiidae) established by Carl Jakob Sundevall in 1833. It comprises nine species distributed across North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Members are small spiders (2.4–5.9 mm body length) that construct webs in sheltered microhabitats including under stones, in leaf litter, under bark, and in moss. The genus was formerly classified within Steatoda.
Asagena americana
Two-spotted Cobweb Spider, Twospotted Cobweb Spider
Asagena americana, commonly known as the two-spotted cobweb spider, is a small theridiid spider native to North America. Males are notably robust with short, muscular legs and possess a stridulating organ used to produce sound during courtship. Females construct cobwebs in concealed microhabitats including under stones, in leaf litter, under bark, and in moss. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism in body form and is frequently preyed upon by mud dauber wasps.
Asagena fulva
Red-and-white Asagena
Asagena fulva is a small cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Females range from 3–5.9 mm in body length, males from 2.4–5 mm. The species appears distinctly redder with more white markings than its congener A. americana. It has been observed in association with harvester ant nests, suggesting possible ant specialization.
Chrosiothes jenningsi
Chrosiothes jenningsi is a species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae. It was described by Piel in 1995. The species is known from the United States. As a member of Theridiidae, it constructs irregular, tangled webs. Very few observations of this species have been documented.
Chrosiothes jocosus
Chrosiothes jocosus is a species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae. The species was described by Gertsch & Davis in 1936. It occurs in the United States and Mexico, representing a relatively restricted North American distribution within its genus.
Coleosoma acutiventer
Coleosoma acutiventer is a species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae. It has been recorded across a broad geographic range spanning from the United States through Central America to Argentina. The species was originally described as Achaea acutiventer by Keyserling in 1884. As a theridiid spider, it constructs irregular, tangled webs for prey capture.
Coleosoma floridanum
Coleosoma floridanum is a small cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae. The species has a broad native distribution across the Americas and has been introduced to multiple regions worldwide, including Europe, West Africa, and Pacific islands. It builds irregular, tangled webs characteristic of its family.
Crustulina altera
cobweb spider
Crustulina altera is a small species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, first described by Gertsch and Archer in 1942. It is known from the United States and Jamaica. Like other members of its genus, it constructs irregular, tangled webs typical of theridiid spiders. Very little has been published about the specific biology or ecology of this species.
Crustulina sticta
Brownblack Cobweb Weaver
Crustulina sticta is a small cobweb spider in the family 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 species is part of a genus closely related to Steatoda, which includes spiders frequently mistaken for black widows. Available information on its biology is limited compared to better-studied relatives.
Cryptachaea rupicola
Cryptachaea rupicola is a cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, first described by Emerton in 1882. The species occurs in the United States and Canada. As a member of Theridiidae, it constructs irregular, three-dimensional webs. Very little detailed information about its biology, ecology, or specific habitat requirements has been documented.
Dipoena
tangle-web spiders
Dipoena is a genus of tangle-web spiders (family Theridiidae) containing approximately 162 species distributed worldwide. The genus was established by Tamerlan Thorell in 1869. Males are distinguished by a characteristically high, cylindrical carapace often bearing grooves or depressions on the dorsum, while female carapaces are rarely modified though sometimes elevated. Species occur across Asia, Central America, North America, Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, South America, Australia, and Pacific islands including Vanuatu.
Dipoena dorsata
Dipoena dorsata is a species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, first described by Muma in 1944. It has been recorded across a broad geographic range from the United States to Paraguay, spanning North, Central, and South America. As a member of the genus Dipoena, it constructs irregular, tangled webs typical of theridiid spiders. Specific details regarding its biology, ecology, and behavior remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Dipoena malkini
Dipoena malkini is a species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, first described by Levi in 1953. It is a small spider known from the United States. Like other members of the genus Dipoena, it constructs irregular, tangled webs characteristic of theridiid spiders. The species remains poorly documented with limited observational records.
Dipoena washougalia
Dipoena washougalia is a species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, first described by Levi in 1953. It is known from the United States, with records primarily from the Pacific Northwest region. The genus Dipoena comprises small spiders that construct tangled, irregular webs. Information on this particular species remains limited.
Emertonella
Emertonella is a genus of cobweb spiders in the family Theridiidae, subfamily Hadrotarsinae, first described by E. B. Bryant in 1945. The genus was re-delimited in 2024 based on male palpal morphology, transferring approximately 30 species from the genus Euryopis. It now contains species distributed across Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America, and New Guinea.
spidercobweb-spiderTheridiidaeHadrotarsinaeant-predator-subfamilyre-delimited-genuscosmopolitan-distributionmale-palpal-morphologytaxonomyEuryopis-transferChinaHenan-Provinceforest-habitatagricultural-habitatJuly-collectionelevation-70-1340mBryant-19452024-revisionPMC12964056ZooKeys-1270genus-levelAraneaeArachnidacomb-footed-spiderEnoplognatha intrepida
Enoplognatha intrepida is a cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, characterized by its membership in the infraorder Araneomorphae. The species has a notably disjunct distribution spanning North America (USA, Canada, Greenland) and East Asia (Korea). It is one of several species in the genus Enoplognatha, which includes the well-studied and polymorphic E. ovata.
Enoplognatha joshua
Enoplognatha joshua is a species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae. It was described by Chamberlin and Ivie in 1942. The species is known from the United States and has also been recorded in the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. Like other members of the genus Enoplognatha, it constructs tangled, irregular webs characteristic of theridiid spiders.
Enoplognatha latimana
Scarce candy-striped spider
Enoplognatha latimana is a cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, described by Hippa & Oksala in 1982. It belongs to a genus noted for polymorphic coloration, though specific appearance details for this species are not well documented. The species has been recorded across a broad Palearctic range and has been introduced to Canada. A 2024 study documented the first known Wolbachia infection in this species, representing supergroup A bacteria in a specimen from north-western Poland.
Enoplognatha marmorata
marbled cobweb spider
A species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, native to the Holarctic region. It constructs tangled, irregular webs in outdoor vegetation rather than in buildings. The species shows considerable color variation, with individuals ranging from pale to dark with marbled or striped abdominal patterns.
Episinus
Square-ended Cobweb Spiders
Episinus is a genus of comb-footed spiders in the family Theridiidae, first described by Walckenaer in 1809. The genus includes approximately 64 described species distributed across Asia, Africa, and the Americas, with 16 species recorded from China. These small spiders are known for their highly reduced, H- or Y-shaped webs constructed near ground level in low vegetation. Several species have conservation significance, including the Tree H-weaver (Episinus maculipes) which is Red Data Book listed in the UK.
Episinus amoenus
cobweb spider
Episinus amoenus is a species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, first described by Banks in 1911. It is found in the United States and Mexico. The species belongs to the genus Episinus, which is characterized by its distinctive web-building behavior and morphology.
Euryopis funebris
Euryopis funebris is a small cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, subfamily Hadrotarsinae. It is native to North America and has been introduced to South Africa. Unlike typical theridiids that build tangled webs, this species is an active ant-hunting specialist that uses silk to immobilize prey rather than construct capture webs.
Euryopis tavara
Euryopis tavara is a small cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, subfamily Hadrotarsinae. Unlike most theridiids, it does not construct prey-catching webs. The species is known from the United States and shares the genus-wide trait of specialized ant predation. It is one of approximately twenty Euryopis species recorded in North America north of Mexico.
Flexamia huroni
Huron River Leafhopper
Flexamia huroni is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, described by Bess & Hamilton in 1999. It belongs to the genus Flexamia, a group of leafhoppers known for their specialized host plant associations with grasses. The species is named after the Huron River in Michigan, where it was first collected. Like other members of the genus, it likely exhibits strong ecological dependence on specific grass host plants.
leafhoppercicadellidaedeltocephalinaeparalimniniflexamiagrass-specialistmichigan-endemicauchenorrhynchahemipterainsectaarthropodaanimaliatrue-bugplanthopper-relative1999-descriptionbesshamiltonhuronihuron-riverusanorth-americagrassland-insecthost-specificpoorly-knownrareuncommondata-deficientgbifcatalogue-of-lifencbiinaturalisttaxonspeciesacceptedhexapodacicadomorphaclypeatamembracoideaparalimninaflexamia-huronibess-&-hamilton1999exact-matchaccepted-namecanonical-namescientific-nameauthorshiprankstatusmatchedtaxonomyclassificationeukaryotametazoadistributionmichiganobservations0wikipedianonepreferred-common-namehuron-river-leafhoppertrue-bugsgroupkingdomphylumclassorderfamilygenusauthorityiptintegrated-publishing-toolkitbiodiversity-data-journalzookeysnature-conservationcomparative-cytogeneticsopen-accessopen-accessjournalpublicationdatasetspecimentypenomenclatural-typeherbariumuniversity-of-granadaspainfungilichensagaricalescortinariusantonio-ortegamediterraneanfranceitalyimage-collectioncolección-de-imágenes-de-los-tipos-nomenclaturales-de-hongoslíquenesmusgos-y-algasgdagdacvizosoquesada2015doi10.3897bdj3e5204new-speciesnew-jersey-pine-barrensmuhlenbergia-torreyanapinebarren-smokegrassthreatened-speciesandrew-hicksmuseum-of-natural-historyuniversity-of-coloradogerry-moorenatural-resources-conservation-servicegreensboronculi-lorimerbrooklyn-botanic-gardenf.-whitcombirobert-whitcombmicrobiologyornithologyecologyhost-plantwarming-climatehuman-activitieszookeys-51169-79zookeys.511.9572roundwormnematodeantarcticamblydorylaimus-isokaryonipararhyssocolpus-paradoxusbulgariascanning-electron-microscopysemmaritime-antarcticantarctic-islandslip-regionspearvulvapostembryonic-developmentmolecular-analysesdorylaimidaelshishkalazarovaradoslavovhristovpeneva25-68zookeys.511.9793anidiv2bulgarian-academy-of-sciencesnational-scientific-fundoctocoralokinawajapannanipora-kamurailiving-fossilblue-coralhelioporaaragonite-calcium-carbonateskeletonscleractinianssoft-coralheliporacealithotelestidaeepiphaxumdeep-seashallow-coral-reefzamami-islandnational-parkmiyazakireimer1-23zookeys.511.9432non-biting-midgechironomusch.-bernensisnorth-caucasusrussiacaucasian-populationseuropesiberiakaryotypemorphologymouthpartslarvaechromosomegenotypic-combinationsmineralizationeutrophicationkarmokovpolukonovasinichkinatembotov-institute-of-ecology-of-mountain-territoriessaratov-state-medical-universitycomparative-cytogenetics-9281-297compcytogen.v9i3.4519sea-turtlerescue-centrefirst-aid-stationloggerheadgreen-turtlecaretta-carettachelonia-mydasbycatchmortalitygreecemigrationsexual-maturityullmannstachowitschuit-the-arctic-university-of-norwaynature-conservation-1045-69natureconservation.10.4890regional-activity-centre-for-specially-protected-areasporcupinecoendou-ichilluslower-urubambaperucanopy-bridgepipelinenatural-gasarborealcamera-trapdwarf-porcupineiquitos770ggregorylundezamora-mezacarrasco-ruedarepsol-exploración-perúzookeys-509109-121zookeys.509.9821antprionopeltamadagascarseychellessubterraneanleaf-litterdracula-anthemolymphlarval-hemolymph-feedingoophagymadagascar-biodiversity-centeroversonfisherzookeys-507115-150zookeys.507.9303itobillenmasukospideranelosimussubsocialcobweb-spidertheridiidaedeforestationbiodiversity-hotspotagnarssonuniversity-of-vermontsmithsonian-national-museum-of-natural-historywallacehuxleybuffonhookerlamarckdarwinmoramoraeriophyoid-miteacarixinjiangchinarosaceaeparacolomerusgallji-wei-liwangxuezhangzookeys-50897-111zookeys.508.8940shihezi-universitygrasshopperwyomingmelanoplusmelanoplinaeacrididaetetrigidaegomphocerniaeoedipodinaecyrtacanthacridinaedistribution-atlasfield-guidewgiswyoming-grasshopper-information-systemkeycapinerasechristhebardhelferscudderblatchleythomassayharrisdegeerbrunersaussuregirarddodgewalkerfieberfabriciusservillemcneilltinkhamburmeisterhaldemanbig-horn-mountainsblack-hillsgladstonindigensinfantilisdodgeioregonensismarshalliyellowstone-national-parksagebrushpineelevationshortgrass-prairiemixedgrass-prairieforbgrasseconomic-damagerangelandbenefitoverwinteregghatchadultlate-summeraugustoctoberjunelife-cyclefood-habitsizecollectionsurveyunderreportedcommonendemicrestricted-rangeforest-openinggrassymoderate-elevationlargersmallereastwestunited-statesamericanorthsouthcentralrangeextentlimitedrestrictedabundantpopulationdensityoccurrencepresenceabsencehabitatenvironmentconditionaltitudetopographyterrainvegetationplantshrubtreeforestopeningmeadowprairiesteppesavannawoodlanddrawslopeaspectsoilsubstratemoisturetemperatureclimateweatherseasonphenologytimingactivitynymphemergemoltdevelopgrowreproducemateovipositdiegenerationvoltinismunivoltinebivoltinemultivoltinesemivoltinediapauseaestivationhibernationdispersalmovementbehaviorhabitactionfeedingdietfoodhostassociationrelationshipinteractionspecialistgeneralistmonophagyoligophagypolyphagyherbivoredetritivorepredatorparasitoidscavengereconomic-importancepestbeneficialneutraldamagecontrolmanagementconservationthreatenedendangeredvulnerablesecureunknownglobal-biodiversity-information-facilityesbiodiversity-image-portalspanish-collectionstype-specimenlichenantarcticabernensisliyellowstoneHentziectypus globosus
Fingered Cobweaver
Hentziectypus globosus is a species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, commonly known as the Fingered Cobweaver. It is a small spider native to North America. As a member of Theridiidae, it constructs irregular, tangled webs rather than organized orb webs. The species was first described by Nicholas Marcellus Hentz in 1850.
Latrodectus
widow spiders, black widow spiders, brown widow spiders
Latrodectus is a genus of cobweb spiders (Theridiidae) containing approximately 34-35 species distributed worldwide except Antarctica. Females are typically dark-colored with distinctive reddish ventral abdominal markings, often hourglass-shaped, while males and juveniles frequently display dorsal red or red-and-white patterns. The genus is medically significant due to potent venom containing the neurotoxin latrotoxin, which causes the condition latrodectism. Despite their reputation, bites rarely cause death in humans. The common name "widow spiders" derives from observations of sexual cannibalism, though this behavior is more common in laboratory settings than in nature.
Latrodectus bishopi
Red Widow
Latrodectus bishopi, the red widow spider, is a venomous cobweb spider endemic to the sand-pine scrub habitat of central and southern Florida. First described as a variety of L. mactans in 1938 and elevated to species status in 1964, it is distinguished from other widow spiders by its distinctive coloration and lack of a complete hourglass marking. The species is listed as threatened in the United States due to its restricted range and habitat specificity.
Meotipa pulcherrima
Meotipa pulcherrima is a cobweb spider (family Theridiidae) native to Tropical Africa that has established populations across multiple continents through human-mediated introduction. The species occupies savanna and thicket biomes at moderate elevations and constructs tangled webs in vegetation. It is listed as Least Concern in South Africa due to its broad distribution.
Neopisinus cognatus
Neopisinus cognatus is a species of cobweb spider (family Theridiidae) described by O. Pickard-Cambridge in 1893. It belongs to a genus of small theridiid spiders found in the Americas. The species has been documented across a broad geographic range spanning from the southern United States through Central America to South America, including the Caribbean region.
Neospintharus trigonum
Horned Parasitic Cobweaver, Dewdrop Spider
Neospintharus trigonum is a species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, found in the United States and Canada. This small spider has been documented as a kleptoparasite, living in the webs of larger orb-weaving spiders and stealing their captured prey. Females produce clutches of approximately 42 eggs, each about 0.67 mm in diameter. The species was previously classified in the genus Argyrodes but has been reclassified to Neospintharus.
Neottiura bimaculata
Neottiura bimaculata is a species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae. It has a broad distribution spanning North America, Europe, Turkey, the Caucasus, Russia (Siberia), Central Asia, China, and Japan. The species was first described by Linnaeus in 1767 under the name Aranea bimaculata. Two subspecies are recognized: N. b. bimaculata and N. b. pellucida.
Nesticodes rufipes
Red House Spider
Nesticodes rufipes, commonly known as the Red House Spider, is a cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae and the sole species in its genus. It has been introduced globally and is found on multiple continents including North America, South America, and oceanic islands. The species has been studied extensively for its predatory behavior, exhibiting a type II functional response to prey density. Research indicates that habitat complexity significantly affects its predation efficiency, with reduced capture rates in more complex environments due to prey refuge availability.
Parasteatoda tepidariorum
Common House Spider, American House Spider, Domestic Spider, Common Gray House Spider
Parasteatoda tepidariorum, the common house spider, is a small cobweb-weaving spider native to the Americas that has achieved cosmopolitan distribution through human commerce. It is strongly synanthropic, rarely found outside human-built structures. Females measure 5–8 mm in body length, males 3.8–4.7 mm, with variable coloration from tan to nearly black. The species constructs irregular three-dimensional webs in dark corners of buildings and has become a model organism for developmental biology research due to its short lifecycle, ease of laboratory culture, and accessible embryology.
Phoroncidia americana
Phoroncidia americana is a cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, first described by Emerton in 1882. It occurs in the United States, Canada, Cuba, and Jamaica. Like other members of its genus, it constructs irregular, three-dimensional cobwebs. The species is part of a genus known for small-bodied spiders with reduced web architecture compared to other theridiids.
Phylloneta pictipes
Phylloneta pictipes is a cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, native to the United States. This species constructs irregular cobwebs for prey capture. Adults display distinctive coloration with a yellow abdomen bearing patterned black spots, black-banded legs, and a comparatively small cephalothorax. The species has been documented in 1,110 iNaturalist observations, indicating it is moderately well-recorded though not commonly encountered in general natural history.
Platnickina
Platnick's Cobweb Spiders
Platnickina is a genus of cobweb spiders (Theridiidae) established in 2008 and named in honor of arachnologist Norman Platnick. The genus is cosmopolitan, excluding Oceania, with fifteen recognized species as of 2025. European species exhibit distinctive bright yellow coloration with black mottling. The genus can be distinguished from other theridiids by specific morphological traits including trichobothria on the metatarsi of the third leg pair.
Platnickina alabamensis
cobweb spider
Platnickina alabamensis is a species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae. It was originally described as Theridion alabamense by Gertsch and Archer in 1942. The species is native to North America.
Rhomphaea projiciens
Rhomphaea projiciens is a species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, first described by O. Pickard-Cambridge in 1896. It exhibits a broad native range across the Americas, from the United States south to Argentina, and has established introduced populations in India. The species belongs to a genus characterized by unusual body proportions and modified legs. Records indicate presence across multiple Brazilian states and other South American countries.
Robertus
Robertus is a genus of comb-footed spiders in the family Theridiidae. It was established by Octavius Pickard-Cambridge in 1879 and is recognized as the senior synonym of the former genus Garritus. The genus comprises small spiders that construct tangled, irregular webs. Species within Robertus are found primarily in the Northern Hemisphere, with documented occurrences in Europe and North America.
Robertus frontatus
cobweb spider
Robertus frontatus is a small cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, first described by Nathan Banks in 1892. The species was originally placed in the genus Microneta before being transferred to Robertus. It is one of many understudied theridiid species with limited published biological information.
Robertus pumilus
Robertus pumilus is a species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae. It is found in the United States. The species was described by James Henry Emerton in 1909.
Simitidion
Simitidion is a genus of comb-footed spiders (Theridiidae) described by J. Wunderlich in 1992. The genus contains three recognized species: S. agaricographum, S. lacuna, and S. simile. Native populations occur in Africa, Asia, and Europe, with S. simile introduced to Canada. The genus is part of the diverse cobweb spider family.
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.
Steatoda albomaculata
white-spotted false widow, white-spotted false widow spider
Steatoda albomaculata is a small cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, commonly known as the white-spotted false widow. It is widely distributed across North America, Europe, Russia, North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and East Asia. The species has been studied for its predation efficiency on various prey types and is recognized as a generalist predator. It was formerly considered to have two subspecies, but Steatoda albomaculata infuscata was synonymized with the nominate form in 2024, leaving no valid subspecies.
Steatoda bipunctata
Rabbit Hutch Spider
Steatoda bipunctata is a small cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, commonly known as the Rabbit Hutch Spider due to its frequent association with human structures. Native to Europe, it has been introduced to North America and is now established across the Atlantic provinces, northern New England, and southern Québec and Ontario. It closely resembles the native North American species Steatoda borealis and has been documented to competitively displace it in disturbed habitats. The species poses minimal medical risk to humans.
Steatoda castanea
Steatoda castanea is a cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, closely related to black widows and other Steatoda species. It is native to the Palearctic region, with distribution records from Europe through Russia, the Caucasus, Iran, Central Asia, and China. The species has been introduced to North America, including Canada. As a member of the cobweb weaver family, it constructs irregular tangled webs and shares the general morphology and habits typical of the genus Steatoda, though specific behavioral and ecological details for this species remain poorly documented in available literature.
Steatoda erigoniformis
Steatoda erigoniformis is a cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae. Originally described from the East Mediterranean region, it has a broad native distribution spanning North Africa, the Middle East, Caucasus, and East Asia. The species has been introduced to multiple regions including the United States, Caribbean, Venezuela, Cape Verde, and South Africa, where it has established populations in agricultural and natural habitats. It constructs three-dimensional cobwebs in dark, sheltered locations and has been recorded from sea level to nearly 3,000 meters elevation.
Steatoda grandis
Steatoda grandis is a species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, first described by Banks in 1901. It is known from the United States, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented in the scientific literature. The species belongs to a genus that includes several well-known spiders, some of which are frequently encountered in human dwellings.