The scaffold web spiders of the family Nesticidae, are closely allied with the Theridiidae, or tangle web spiders. Like the Theridiidae these spiders have a comb of serrated bristles on the hind tarsi that are used to pull silk bands from the spinnerets. It contains nine genera and a little over 200 species, many of which are associated with caves or overhangs. The genus Nesticus is the type for the family and is found throughout the world. The related Eidmannella has speciated considerably in Texas caves and includes some extremely localized species that are considered threatened. One species, Eidmannella pallida, is found in caves and under overhangs, but also in agricultural fields and other habitats away from such restricted areas. The genus Carpathonesticus is found in central Eurasia.
Genera
- Acrometinae Wunderlich, 1979 † (fossil)
- Acrometa Petrunkevitch, 1942 †
- Acrometa cristata Petrunkevitch, 1942 †
- Acrometa minutum Petrunkevitch, 1942 †
- Acrometa robustum Petrunkevitch, 1942 †
- Acrometa samlandica Petrunkevitch, 1942 †
- Acrometa setosus Petrunkevitch, 1942 †
- Acrometa succini Petrunkevitch, 1942 †
- Anandrus †
- Cornuandrus Wunderlich, 1986 †
- Cornuandrus maior Wunderlich, 1986 †
- Elucus Petrunkevitch, 1942 †
- Elucus inermis Petrunkevitch, 1942 †
- Elucus quaesitus Petrunkevitch, 1958 †
- Elucus redemptus Petrunkevitch, 1958 †
- Pseudacrometa Wunderlich, 1986 †
- Pseudacrometa gracilipes Wunderlich, 1986 †
- Aituaria Esyunin & Efimik, 1998 (Russia, Georgia)
- Canarionesticus Wunderlich, 1992 (Canary Islands)
- Carpathonesticus Lehtinen & Saaristo, 1980 (Eastern Europe, Italy)
- Cyclocarcina Komatsu, 1942 (Japan)
- Eidmannella Roewer, 1935 (worldwide)
- Gaucelmus Keyserling, 1884 (Africa, Australia, Asia)
- Nesticella Lehtinen & Saaristo, 1980 (Africa, Asia, Australia)
- Nesticus Thorell, 1869 (America, Eurasia)
- Typhlonesticus Kulczynski, 1914 (Montenegro)
See also
References
- Hedin, M. & Dellinger, B. (2005). Descriptions of a new species and previously unknown males of Nesticus (Araneae: Nesticidae) from caves in Eastern North America, with comments on species rarity. Zootaxa 904: 1-19 PDF
External links
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