Scaffold web spiders or cave cobweb spiders (Nesticidae) are a family of araneomorph spiders closely allied with tangle-web spiders (Theridiidae). 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. Nesticidae contains 16 genera and about 300 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.
Leptonetidae is a family of small spiders adapted to live in dark and moist places such as caves. The family is relatively primitive having diverged around the Middle Jurassic period. They were first described by Eugène Simon in 1890.
Tegenaria is a genus of fast-running funnel weavers that occupy much of the Northern Hemisphere except for Japan and Indonesia. It was first described by Pierre André Latreille in 1804, though many of its species have been moved elsewhere. The majority of these were moved to Eratigena, including the giant house spider and the hobo spider.
Malthonica is a genus of funnel weavers first described by Eugène Simon in 1898. Many of its species were transferred to Aterigena and Tegenaria in 2010.
Harpactea is a genus of woodlouse hunting spiders that was first described by W. S. Bristowe in 1939. They are non-web building predators that forage on the ground and on tree trunks at night, mainly in xerothermic forests. During the day, they hide in silk retreats they build under rocks or bark.
Histopona is a genus of funnel weavers first described as a sub-genus of Hadites by Tamerlan Thorell in 1870. It was elevated to genus by Brignoli in 1972.
Inermocoelotes is a genus of funnel weavers that was first described by S. V. Ovtchinnikov in 1999.
Speleoharpactea is a monotypic genus of European woodlouse hunting spiders containing the single species, Speleoharpactea levantina. It was first described by C. Ribera in 1982, and has only been found in Spain.
Cryphoecina is a monotypic genus of Balkan araneomorph spiders in the family Cybaeidae containing the single species, Cryphoecina deelemanae. It was first described by C. Deltshev in 1997, and has only been found in Montenegro. The type genus was transferred to the Cybaeidae in 2017.
Protoleptoneta is a genus of leptonetids that was first described by C. Deltshev in 1972.
Agraecina is a genus of liocranid sac spiders that was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1932.
Aituaria is a genus of spiders in the family Nesticidae. It was first described in 1998 by Esyunin & Efimik. As of 2016, it contains two species, Aituaria nataliae and Aituaria pontica, the latter of which was transferred from Nesticus first to Carpathonesticus, then to Aituaria.
Carpathonesticus is a genus of spiders in the family Nesticidae. It was first described in 1980 by Lehtinen & Saaristo. As of December 2019, it contains 21 species.
Telemofila is a genus of long-legged cave spiders that was first described by J. Wunderlich in 1995. As of September 2019 it contains two species, found on Sumatra and New Caledonia: T. pecki and T. samosirensis.
Dactylopisthes is a genus of dwarf spiders that was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1884.
Christa Laetitia Deeleman-Reinhold is a Dutch arachnologist. She specializes in spiders from Southeast Asia and Southern Europe, particularly cave-dwelling and tropical spiders. She donated a collection of about 25,000 Southeast Asian spiders, the largest collection of Southeast Asian spiders in existence, to the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden. In addition to numerous articles, she has written the book Forest Spiders of South East Asia (2001).
Domitius is a genus of European scaffold web spiders first described by C. Ribera in 2018.
Domitius beaticus is an araneomorph spider species of the family Nesticidae. It is known to occur in Spain. The species is troglobitic, occurring solely in caves.
Stalita taenaria is an araneomorph spider species in the family Dysderidae. The species is classified as a member of troglofauna, more precisely a troglobiont species, meaning such spiders are obligate cave-dwellers adapted to living in dark surroundings. Stalita taenaria is a species of a few European countries. The spider is thought to be the first described species of true (eyeless) cave spider in the world.
