Linyphiidae
Guides
Agnyphantes
Agnyphantes is a genus of dwarf spiders (family Linyphiidae) containing only two species: A. arboreus and A. expunctus. The genus was established by J. E. Hull in 1932. These spiders belong to the sheet-web weaving spiders, though specific details about their biology remain poorly documented.
Agnyphantes arboreus
Agnyphantes arboreus is a species of sheet-web weaver spider in the family Linyphiidae, first described by Emerton in 1915 under the name Bathyphantes arborea. It is a small spider native to western North America, with confirmed records from Alberta and British Columbia in Canada. Like other linyphiids, it constructs flat sheet webs to capture prey. The species epithet 'arboreus' suggests an association with trees or woody vegetation.
Agyneta
dwarf spiders, sheet weavers
Agyneta is a genus of dwarf spiders (family Linyphiidae) containing over 200 species distributed across multiple continents. First described by J. E. Hull in 1911, these small sheet-weaving spiders are characterized by distinct genital structures used for species identification. The genus has been documented from Europe, South America, and other regions, with new species continuing to be described.
Agyneta barrowsi
Agyneta barrowsi is a species of sheet weaver spider in the family Linyphiidae, described by Chamberlin & Ivie in 1944. It occurs in the United States and Canada. The genus Agyneta belongs to the large family of dwarf sheet weavers, which are characterized by their small size and flat, sheet-like webs.
Agyneta olivacea
Agyneta olivacea is a species of sheet-web spider (family Linyphiidae) described by James Henry Emerton in 1882. It has a Holarctic distribution, occurring across northern regions of North America and Eurasia. The species was originally described under the basionym Microneta olivacea. As a member of the sheet weaver family, it constructs flat, horizontal webs rather than aerial orb webs.
Agyneta semipallida
Agyneta semipallida is a species of sheet weaver spider in the family Linyphiidae. It was described from the United States in 1944. The species is known from limited records and has not been documented on iNaturalist. It was originally described as Meioneta semipallida before being transferred to Agyneta.
Allomengea
dwarf spiders
Allomengea is a genus of dwarf spiders in the family Linyphiidae, first described by Embrik Strand in 1912. The genus contains six species with a primarily Holarctic distribution, ranging from North America across Eurasia to East Asia. Species occur in diverse habitats including boreal and temperate regions, with some showing broad transcontinental ranges while others are restricted to specific regions such as the Korean Peninsula or China.
Aphileta
Aphileta is a genus of dwarf spiders (family Linyphiidae) established by J. E. Hull in 1920. The genus contains three recognized species found in North America: A. centrasiatica, A. microtarsa, and A. misera. GBIF records indicate the genus also occurs in Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway, Sweden).
Aphileta misera
Aphileta misera is a species of dwarf spider in the family Linyphiidae. It has a broad distribution spanning North America, Europe, and Russia from Siberia to the Far East. As a member of the sheet-web weaving spiders, it constructs small webs in low vegetation. The species was first described by O. Pickard-Cambridge in 1882.
Arcuphantes
Arcuphantes is a genus of dwarf spiders (Linyphiidae: Micronetinae) comprising 57 species distributed across Asia and North America. The genus was established by Chamberlin and Ivie in 1943, with A. fragilis designated as the type species. Species diversity is concentrated in Japan and Korea, with additional representatives in China, Mongolia, and North America. The genus is characterized by distinctive genital morphology, particularly elaborate epigynal scapes and male palpal structures.
Arcuphantes arcuatulus
Arcuphantes arcuatulus is a species of sheetweb spider in the family Linyphiidae. It was described by Roewer in 1942 and is known from the United States and Canada. Members of this family construct small, flat sheet webs to capture prey.
Bathyphantes
dwarf spiders, sheetweb weavers
Bathyphantes is a genus of dwarf spiders (family Linyphiidae) comprising approximately 57 species distributed across the Holarctic region, with additional species in South America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. These small spiders construct sheet webs and are characterized by complex male pedipalps and female epigyna used for species identification. The genus was first described by Anton Menge in 1866. At least one species, Bathyphantes simillimus, exhibits a triennial life cycle potentially adapted to cooler environments.
Bathyphantes alascensis
Three-spined Shield Sheetweaver
Bathyphantes alascensis is a small sheetweb spider in the family Linyphiidae, commonly known as the Three-spined Shield Sheetweaver. The species occurs across northern North America from Alaska through Canada to the northern United States. Like other linyphiids, it constructs horizontal sheet webs, often with a retreat at the edge. The genus Bathyphantes is part of the diverse sheetweb spider assemblage, with males possessing complex pedipalps used in mating.
Bathyphantes alboventris
Notch-tipped Shield Sheetweaver
Bathyphantes alboventris is a small sheetweb spider in the family Linyphiidae, first described by Banks in 1892. It is known from the United States and Canada. The species belongs to a genus of sheetweb weavers characterized by specific male genitalia structures. Limited information exists on its natural history and ecology.
Bathyphantes brevipes
Grey Sheetweb Weaver
Bathyphantes brevipes is a species of sheetweb spider in the family Linyphiidae, commonly known as the Grey Sheetweb Weaver. It is a small arachnid found across northern North America, with records from the United States and Canada including Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba. As a member of the Linyphiidae family, it constructs flat sheet webs typically positioned close to the ground or substrate.
Bathyphantes brevis
Short Sheetweb Weaver
Bathyphantes brevis is a species of sheetweb spider in the family Linyphiidae, first described by Emerton in 1911. It is found in the United States and Canada. As a member of the Linyphiidae, it constructs flat, horizontal sheet webs. The species is part of the diverse genus Bathyphantes, which contains numerous small-bodied spiders.
Bathyphantes canadensis
Canada Sheetweb Weaver
Bathyphantes canadensis is a small sheetweb weaving spider in the family Linyphiidae, found across northern North America and eastern Russia. It is one of approximately 4,000 species in the sheetweb weaver family, characterized by their flat, horizontal web architecture. The species is rarely encountered by casual observers due to its small size and cryptic habits.
Bathyphantes keeni
Hump-headed Shield Sheetweaver
Bathyphantes keeni is a species of sheetweb spider in the family Linyphiidae. It occurs in Canada and the United States. The species is part of the diverse sheetweb weaver group, which constructs flat or dome-shaped webs rather than orb webs. Little specific information has been published on its biology.
Bathyphantes orica
Short Shield Sheetweaver
Bathyphantes orica is a species of sheetweb spider in the family Linyphiidae, commonly known as the Short Shield Sheetweaver. It was described by Ivie in 1969. The species is known from the United States and Canada, though specific details about its biology remain poorly documented. Like other members of the genus Bathyphantes, it constructs sheet-like webs rather than orb webs.
Bathyphantes weyeri
Wide Shield Sheetweaver
Bathyphantes weyeri is a species of sheetweb spider in the family Linyphiidae, first described by Emerton in 1875. It belongs to a genus of small spiders that construct flat, horizontal sheet webs often accompanied by a dome-shaped retreat. The species is known from the United States, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented. Like other linyphiids, it is presumed to be a small-bodied spider that occupies ground-level or low vegetation habitats.
Besciva
Besciva is a genus of sheetweb weavers in the family Linyphiidae. The genus is known from at least one undescribed species ('n-sp') encountered in the northern reaches of Door County, Wisconsin, USA. Sheetweb weavers in this genus construct flat, convex, or concave webs depending on the species, with spiders hanging upside down to capture prey. Mature males cease web-spinning to seek mates.
Carcinocephalus
Carcinocephalus is a genus of dwarf spiders (Linyphiidae: Erigoninae) characterized by distinctive cephalic modifications. These minute sheet-web building spiders are among the smallest arachnids, typically measuring only a few millimeters in length. The genus name refers to the crab-like or projecting head structure found in males. Members of this genus construct flat, sheet-like webs and are generally associated with ground-level or low vegetation habitats.
Centromerus
dwarf spiders
Centromerus is a genus of dwarf spiders in the family Linyphiidae, containing approximately 88 species and two subspecies. The genus has a broad distribution spanning the Holarctic region, with species recorded across Europe, North America, Asia, and North Africa. Many species exhibit restricted geographic ranges, while a few such as C. sylvaticus have exceptionally wide distributions. The genus was established by Dahl in 1886.
Ceraticelus
dwarf spiders
Ceraticelus is a genus of dwarf spiders in the family Linyphiidae, subfamily Erigoninae. First described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1884, the genus currently contains approximately 34 species and two subspecies distributed primarily in North America, with some species occurring in Europe and Asia. The genus definition has been historically problematic due to superficial treatment of male palpal bulb morphology. Recent taxonomic work has clarified diagnostic characters through examination of the type species, C. fissiceps.
Ceraticelus artemisiae
A small dwarf spider (subfamily Erigoninae) described from southern California in 2009. Often found co-occurring with its probable sister species Ceraticelus phylax, with which it shares distinctive male palpal bulb morphology. The genus Ceraticelus is taxonomically problematic due to inadequate definition and superficial treatment of diagnostic characters.
Ceraticelus bulbosus
dwarf spider
Ceraticelus bulbosus is a species of dwarf spider in the family Linyphiidae. It has been recorded across a broad geographic range spanning North America and Eurasia, including the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Finland, and Russia from Europe to the Far East. The species was first described by Emerton in 1882. As a member of the subfamily Erigoninae, it belongs to a diverse group of small spiders commonly known as dwarf or money spiders.
Ceraticelus crassiceps
Thick-headed Dwarf Weaver
Ceraticelus crassiceps is a dwarf spider in the family Linyphiidae, described by Chamberlin and Ivie in 1939. It belongs to the subfamily Erigoninae, commonly known as dwarf spiders or money spiders. The species occurs in North America, with records from the United States and Canada.
Ceraticelus emertoni
Ceraticelus emertoni is a species of dwarf spider in the family Linyphiidae, subfamily Erigoninae. It is known from the United States. As a member of the dwarf spiders, it is likely small-bodied and ground-dwelling or associated with low vegetation, though specific natural history details remain poorly documented.
Ceraticelus fissiceps
dwarf spider
Ceraticelus fissiceps is a species of dwarf spider in the family Linyphiidae. It serves as the type species for the genus Ceraticelus, and examination of its specimens has been used to establish a formal definition of the genus. The species is found in the United States and Canada, with records from multiple provinces across Canada including Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba. As a sheet-web weaving spider in the Linyphiidae family, it likely constructs small horizontal webs in vegetation.
Ceraticelus similis
dwarf spider
Ceraticelus similis is a species of dwarf spider in the family Linyphiidae, first described by Nathan Banks in 1892. It belongs to a diverse family of small spiders commonly known as sheet-web weavers or money spiders. The species is known from the United States and has been recorded in Alberta, Canada.
Ceratinella
dwarf spiders
Ceratinella is a genus of dwarf spiders in the family Linyphiidae, first described by James Henry Emerton in 1882. As of January 2026, the genus comprises 28 recognized species. Members are morphologically similar to the related genera Ceraticelus and Idionella, and taxonomic revisions affecting these groups are anticipated.
Ceratinops
Ceratinops is a genus of dwarf spiders in the family Linyphiidae, restricted to North America. First described by Nathan Banks in 1905, this genus contains small-bodied species that inhabit diverse terrestrial environments. Members of this genus are part of the sheet-web building spider fauna, though specific behavioral details remain poorly documented for most species.
Ceratinopsidis formosa
Ceratinopsidis formosa is a species of dwarf spider in the family Linyphiidae. It is the sole member of its genus, which was established by Bishop and Crosby in 1930. The species was originally described by Banks in 1892. Very little is known about its biology or ecology.
Ceratinopsis
Ceratinopsis is a genus of dwarf spiders (family Linyphiidae) containing approximately 44–46 accepted species. These spiders are small-bodied sheet-web weavers first described by James Henry Emerton in 1882. The genus belongs to the diverse assemblage of linyphiid spiders commonly known as money spiders or sheet-web weavers.
Ceratinopsis nigriceps
dwarf spider
Ceratinopsis nigriceps is a dwarf spider species in the family Linyphiidae, first described by Emerton in 1882. The species is recorded from the United States and Canada. Members of this family are generally small-bodied spiders that construct sheet webs or occupy ground layer habitats. Available information for this species is limited.
Chimoptesis n-sp
Chimoptesis n-sp is an undescribed sheetweb weaver spider in the family Linyphiidae, recorded from Door County, Wisconsin. The specimen was observed on June 24, 2019, during a nocturnal survey of building exteriors. Linyphiidae spiders construct flat, convex, or concave sheet webs and hang inverted beneath them to capture prey.
Collinsia plumosa
dwarf spider
Collinsia plumosa is a species of dwarf spider in the family Linyphiidae, first described by James Henry Emerton in 1882. It belongs to a diverse family of small spiders commonly known as sheet-web weavers or money spiders. The species has been recorded from multiple locations across the United States and Canada, though specific details about its biology remain limited in the available literature.
Coreorgonal bicornis
Coreorgonal bicornis is a species of sheet-web weaver spider in the family Linyphiidae, first described by Emerton in 1923. The genus Coreorgonal belongs to a large family of small spiders commonly known as money spiders or sheet-web weavers, which construct horizontal sheet webs often with a retreat at one edge. The specific epithet "bicornis" (Latin for "two-horned") likely refers to a morphological feature of this species, though detailed descriptions of its appearance remain limited in available literature.
Diastema n-sp
Diastema n-sp is a sheetweb weaver spider in the family Linyphiidae, recorded from the exterior of a woodshed in northern Door County, Wisconsin during a nocturnal survey. The specimen was an unidentified male observed on June 24, 2019, in a cool, wet forested area on the shore of Lake Michigan. No further details about this particular species' biology are available from this record.
Dictyonia
Dictyonia n-sp is an undescribed species of sheetweb weaver spider (family Linyphiidae) documented from Door County, Wisconsin, USA. It was recorded during a nocturnal survey of building exteriors in a forested lakeshore habitat. As a member of Linyphiidae, it constructs a flat, sheet-like web and hunts by hanging inverted on the web surface.
Dicymbium
dwarf spiders
Dicymbium is a genus of dwarf spiders in the family Linyphiidae, established by Anton Menge in 1868. The genus name refers to the distinctive male palpal morphology, specifically a cup-shaped projection on the palpal tibia that surrounds the cymbium dorsally. The genus contains eight species and one subspecies distributed across the Northern Hemisphere, including Europe, Asia, and North America.
Dicymbium nigrum
Black Dicymbium
Dicymbium nigrum is a dwarf spider in the family Linyphiidae, first described by John Blackwall in 1834. The species exhibits a wide Palearctic distribution spanning Europe, Turkey, the Caucasus, Russia, Central Asia, and China. Two subspecies are recognized: the nominate form D. n. nigrum and D. n. brevisetosum described by Locket in 1962. As a member of the sheet-web weavers, this species constructs characteristic horizontal webs for prey capture.
Diplocentria
dwarf spiders
Diplocentria is a genus of dwarf spiders in the family Linyphiidae, first described by J. E. Hull in 1911. The genus contains eight recognized species distributed across North America, Europe, and Asia. These small spiders are part of the sheet-web weaving guild within their family.
Diplocentria rectangulata
Diplocentria rectangulata is a sheet web spider in the family Linyphiidae, first described by Emerton in 1915. The species occurs across northern regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including North America and Eurasia. As with other linyphiids, it constructs horizontal sheet webs to capture prey. It is among the smaller spiders, consistent with the dwarf spider morphology typical of this family.
Diplocephalus
Diplocephalus is a genus of dwarf spiders in the family Linyphiidae, subfamily Erigoninae, first described by Philipp Bertkau in 1883. The genus contains 49 species and one subspecies with a wide geographic distribution. Males of at least some species possess specialized glandular head structures that produce secretions transferred to females during courtship to trigger copulation. The genus is part of the diverse sheet-weaving spider fauna.
Dismodicus
dwarf spiders
Dismodicus is a genus of dwarf spiders in the family Linyphiidae, first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1884. The genus contains six species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere, with centers of diversity in Europe and North America. These spiders are part of the sheet-web weaving guild, constructing horizontal webs close to the ground.
Drapetisca
sheetweb weavers
Drapetisca is a genus of dwarf sheetweb spiders in the family Linyphiidae, first described by Anton Menge in 1866. Members are exceptionally small, with females measuring 4–5 mm and males 3–4 mm in body length. These spiders are highly specialized tree trunk dwellers that construct minimal, nearly invisible sheet webs. The genus currently comprises approximately 7 species distributed across the Holarctic region, including North America, Europe, Asia, and Japan.
Entelecara
dwarf spiders
Entelecara is a genus of dwarf spiders (family Linyphiidae) described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1884. The genus contains 21 described species distributed across North America, Europe, Russia, Central Asia, China, Korea, Japan, and North Africa. Species within this genus are small-bodied spiders, consistent with the dwarf spider morphology characteristic of Linyphiidae. The type species is Entelecara acuminata.
Epiceraticelus
Epiceraticelus is a genus of dwarf spiders (family Linyphiidae) endemic to North America, containing two described species. The genus was established in 1931 with E. fluvialis from the Midwestern and Eastern United States. E. mandyae was added in 2019 from the Southeastern United States. Males of E. mandyae possess a distinctive curved proboscis extending from below the eyes.
Eridantes
dwarf spiders
Eridantes is a genus of dwarf spiders (family Linyphiidae, subfamily Erigoninae) established by Crosby & Bishop in 1933. The genus contains three described species: E. diodontos, E. erigonoides, and E. utibilis. It is distinguished from similar genera by two proposed synapomorphies: the mesal (rather than ectal) position of the paracymbium, and the broadly divided dorsal and ventral sclerites of the largely membranous radix. Species-level identification relies on detailed morphological characters including cephalic lobe height, prosomal pit position, male palpal tibia form, and the convolution of the m-shaped carinae of the female epigynum.