Sheet-web-weavers
Guides
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).
Erigoninae
dwarf spiders, money spiders
Erigoninae is the largest subfamily of Linyphiidae (sheet-web weavers), itself the second largest spider family. These minute spiders are commonly called dwarf spiders in the United States and money spiders in England. The subfamily contains over 2,000 described species, making it the most numerous group within the sheet-web weavers. Many species inhabit leaf litter and construct small sheet webs, while others occupy diverse terrestrial habitats from coastal dunes to alpine timberlines.
Frederickus
Frederickus is a genus of dwarf spiders (family Linyphiidae) endemic to North America. It was established in 2008 and contains two described species: F. coylei and F. wilburi. Both species are found in Canada and the United States. The genus belongs to the sheet-web weaving spiders, though specific web-building behaviors for Frederickus remain undocumented.
Frontinella
Bowl and Doily Spiders
Frontinella is a genus of dwarf spiders in the family Linyphiidae, first described by F. O. Pickard-Cambridge in 1902. The genus contains nine described species distributed across China, El Salvador, Mexico, and the United States. The best-known member, F. communis (formerly F. pyramitela), is recognized by its distinctive bowl-and-doily web architecture. These spiders are small-bodied, with mature females measuring 3–4 mm. Some species exhibit behavioral thermoregulation through solar orientation and cohabitation behavior between males and females.
Micrargus
dwarf spiders
Micrargus is a genus of dwarf spiders (family Linyphiidae) described by Friedrich Dahl in 1886. The genus contains seventeen recognized species distributed across Europe, Asia, North America, and Africa. Several species form a distinct species group centered on M. herbigradus, characterized by specific male palpal and female epigynal structures. The genus exhibits considerable habitat flexibility, with species ranging from lowland forests to alpine meadows and caves.
Praestigia
Praestigia is a genus of sheet-weaving spiders (family Linyphiidae) described by Alfred Frank Millidge in 1954. The genus is distinguished by a unique male cephalic projection bearing a detachable cap composed of interconnected fibers bound with a waxy substance. Eight species are recognized, distributed across boreal and arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The etymology combines Latin 'prae' (before/in front) and Greek 'stigios' (awl), referencing this distinctive projection.