Latrodectus is a broadly distributed genus of spiders with several species that are commonly known as the true widows. This group is composed of those often loosely called black widow spiders, brown widow spiders, and similar spiders. However, the diversity of species is much greater. A member of the family Theridiidae, this genus contains 34 species, which include several North American "black widows". Besides these, North America also has the red widow Latrodectus bishopi and the brown widow Latrodectus geometricus, which, in addition to North America, has a much wider geographic distribution. Elsewhere, others include the European black widow, the Australian redback spider and the closely related New Zealand katipō, several different species in Southern Africa that can be called button spiders, and the South American black-widow spiders. Species vary widely in size. In most cases, the females are dark-coloured and can be readily identified by reddish markings on the central underside (ventral) abdomen, which are often hourglass-shaped.
Theridiidae, also known as the tangle-web spiders, cobweb spiders and comb-footed spiders, is a large family of araneomorph spiders first described by Carl Jakob Sundevall in 1833. This diverse, globally distributed family includes over 3,000 species in 124 genera, and is the most common arthropod found in human dwellings throughout the world.
Orb-weaver spiders are members of the spider family Araneidae. They are the most common group of builders of spiral wheel-shaped webs often found in gardens, fields, and forests. The English word "orb" can mean "circular", hence the English name of the group. Araneids have eight similar eyes, hairy or spiny legs, and no stridulating organs.
The spider genus Steatoda, in the family Theridiidae, includes about 120 recognized species, distributed around the world. One common name is cupboard spider, for many species build their webs in dark, sheltered, undisturbed places around the house or garden, in sheds and garages, under garden, in compost bins, and the like. Signs of the cupboard spider include small white spots of spider droppings, like small splashes of paint, on the floor underneath the web.
The genus name is a combination of the Ancient Greek "argyros" (άργυρος), meaning "silver", and the suffix "-odes", meaning "like".
Thwaitesia is a genus of comb-footed spiders that was first described by Octavius Pickard-Cambridge in 1881.
The spider genus Sosippus is, with other genera in the subfamily Hippasinae, unique among the spiders in the family Lycosidae in producing a large funnel-web resembling that of the Agelenidae. The posterior spinnerets are more elongate than in other wolf spiders.
Chrosiothes is a genus of comb-footed spiders that was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1894. It is considered a senior synonym of Theridiotis.
The Mexican deer mouse is a species of forest-dwelling rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in southern Mexico and throughout much of Central America.
Pirata is a genus of wolf spiders, commonly known as pirate wolf spiders.
Ariamnes is a genus of comb-footed spiders that was first described by Tamerlan Thorell in 1869. Some species have greatly elongated abdomens, making them resemble a twig.
Cicurina, also called the cave meshweaver, is a genus of dwarf sheet spiders that was first described by Anton Menge in 1871. Originally placed with the funnel weavers, it was moved to the Dictynidae in 1967, then to the Hahniidae in 2017. The name is from the Latin root "cucur-", meaning "to tame".
Synotaxus is a genus of araneomorph spiders in the family Synotaxidae that was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1895. Originally placed with the tangle web spiders, it was moved to the family Synotaxidae in 2017.
Drassyllus is a genus of ground spiders that was first described by R. V. Chamberlin in 1922.
Faiditus is a genus of comb-footed spiders that was first described by Eugen von Keyserling in 1884.
Neospintharus is a genus of comb-footed spiders that was first described by H. Exline in 1950. It was synonymized with Argyrodes in 1962, but revalidated in 2004.
Rhomphaea is a genus of comb-footed spiders that was first described by Ludwig Carl Christian Koch in 1872.
Habronattus mexicanus is a species of jumping spider in the genus Habronattus. The species was first identified in 1896 in Mexico, after which it is named, originally allocated to the genus Habrocestum. The species has subsequently been identified in locations in North and Central America, as well as islands in the Caribbean Sea. The spider is small, but displays one of the most complex sexual displays, including sophisticated vibatory song patterns.
Harriet Idola Exline Frizzell was an American arachnologist. She was the first woman to receive the Sterning Fellowship at Yale.
