Wolf spiders are members of the family Lycosidae, from the Ancient Greek word "λύκος" meaning "wolf". They are robust and agile hunters with excellent eyesight. They live mostly in solitude and hunt alone, and do not spin webs. Some are opportunistic hunters pouncing upon prey as they find it or even chasing it over short distances. Some wait for passing prey in or near the mouth of a burrow.
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 arthropods found in human dwellings throughout the world.
Orb-weaver spiders or araneids 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. "Orb" was previously used in English to mean "circular", hence the English name of the group. Araneids have eight similar eyes, hairy or spiny legs, and no stridulating organs.
Neoscona, also called spotted orb-weavers and barn spiders, is a genus of orb-weaver spiders first described by Eugène Simon in 1895 to separate these from other araneids in the now obsolete genus Epeira. They have a mostly pantropical distribution and one species, N. adianta, has a palearctic distribution. The name was derived from the Greek νέω, meaning "spin", and σχοῐνος, meaning "reed".
Kurt Grasshoff was a German pilot who commanded Jasta 37 in France and Jasta 38 in Macedonia in World War I. He commanded German ace Ernst Udet in Jasta 37, and chose Udet to command the unit upon his transfer to Jasta 38.
Alexander Grasshoff was an American documentary filmmaker and director who received 3 Oscars nominations.
Fritz Graßhoff was a German painter, poet and songwriter. He was known for hits sung by Lale Andersen, Freddy Quinn and Hans Albers. As a painter, he participated in important exhibitions; as a writer, he was known for his lyric volume Halunkenpostille and his autobiographical novel Der blaue Heinrich. He translated poetry by the Ancient Roman Martial and the Swede Carl Michael Bellman. Many of his writings have been set to music by composers such as James Last, Norbert Schultze and Siegfried Strohbach.
Larinia is a genus of orb-weaver spiders first described by Eugène Simon in 1874.
Caerostris, sometimes called bark spiders, is a genus of orb-weaver spiders first described by Tamerlan Thorell in 1868. Most species are found in south eastern Africa and neighboring Madagascar.
Eriovixia is a genus of orb-weaver spiders first described by Allan Frost Archer in 1951.
Kilima is a genus of African orb-weaver spiders first described by M. Grasshoff in 1970. As of April 2019 it contains only three species.
Lariniaria is a genus of Asian orb-weaver spiders containing the single species, Lariniaria argiopiformis. It was first described by M. Grasshoff in 1970, and has only been found in Russia, China, Korea, and Japan.
Mahembea is a genus of African orb-weaver spiders containing the single species, Mahembea hewitti. It was first created by M. Grasshoff in 1970 to separate this species from its original genus, Larinia. It has only been found in Central and East Africa.
Megaraneus is a genus of African orb-weaver spiders containing the single species, Megaraneus gabonensis. It was first described by R. F. Lawrence in 1968, to contain the single species originally published under the name Epeira gabonensis.
Paralarinia is a genus of African orb-weaver spiders first described by M. Grasshoff in 1970.
Prasonica is a genus of orb-weaver spiders first described by Eugène Simon in 1895.
Prasonicella is a genus of East African orb-weaver spiders first described by M. Grasshoff in 1971. As of April 2019 it contains only two species.
Umbonata is a genus of Tanzanian orb-weaver spiders containing the single species, Umbonata spinosissima. It was first described by M. Grasshoff in 1971 to contain the single species moved from Mangora.
Siwa is a genus of orb-weaver spiders first described by M. Grasshoff in 1970. As of April 2019 it contains only two species.
