Web-building-spider
Guides
Hololena
funnel-web weavers
Hololena is a genus of funnel-web spiders (family Agelenidae) endemic to western North America. The genus contains approximately 30 recognized species, though taxonomic revision is needed. These spiders construct flat, sheet-like webs with a funnel retreat and are abundant in human-altered environments. Males exhibit specialized courtship behaviors including vibrational signals that induce female catalepsy, reducing sexual cannibalism risk. Bites to humans have been documented but result in mild, self-limiting symptoms.
Hypochilus gertschi
Gertsch's lampshade-web spider
Hypochilus gertschi is a lampshade weaver spider in the family Hypochilidae, endemic to the United States. Like other members of its genus, it constructs distinctive flat, circular webs that resemble lampshades. The species was described in 1963 and is one of the few representatives of this relictual spider family in North America.
Mermessus
Decorated-fanged Linyphiids
Mermessus is a genus of dwarf spiders (family Linyphiidae) comprising approximately 82 species as of 2025. The genus is notable for including Mermessus trilobatus, one of Europe's most invasive spider species, which has spread across the continent from North America since the late 1970s. Research on Mermessus fradeorum has established it as an emerging model system for studying heritable bacterial symbiont communities, as individuals can host up to five simultaneous symbionts including Rickettsiella, Wolbachia, and Tisiphia. Some species exhibit low habitat specificity, contributing to their invasion success in agricultural and semi-natural ecosystems.
Neriene clathrata
Latticed Sheet-web Weaver
Neriene clathrata is a sheetweb spider in the family Linyphiidae, commonly known as the Latticed Sheet-web Weaver. The species has an exceptionally wide geographic distribution spanning the Holarctic region, occurring across North America, Europe, North Africa, the Caucasus, Russia (from European to Far East), China, Korea, and Japan. Despite its broad range, detailed biological information remains limited. As a member of the Linyphiidae, it constructs sheet webs rather than orb webs.
Neriene variabilis
Neriene variabilis is a species of sheetweb spider in the family Linyphiidae, first described by Nathan Banks in 1892. It is known from the United States. As a member of the Linyphiidae, it constructs sheet webs—flat or dome-shaped silk structures used for prey capture. The genus Neriene includes multiple species distributed across North America and Eurasia.
Tenuiphantes zebra
Zebra Thin Sheetweaver
Tenuiphantes zebra is a species of sheetweb spider in the family Linyphiidae, a group known for constructing flat, horizontal webs. First described by Emerton in 1882, this small spider is found in North America, with records from the United States and Canada. As a member of the dwarf spider family Linyphiidae, it contributes to terrestrial arthropod diversity in its range, though detailed ecological studies remain limited.