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.
A stabilimentum, also known as a web decoration, is a conspicuous silk structure included in the webs of some species of orb-web spider. Its function is a subject of debate.
Araneus is a genus of common orb-weaving spiders. It includes about 650 species, among which are the European garden spider and the barn spider. The genus was erected by Carl Alexander Clerck in 1757.
Philoponella vicina is a species of spider that does not use venom, but instead wraps its prey in hundreds of metres of spider silk to crush it to death. The spider then goes on to regurgitate digestive fluid into the shroud, then consuming the pre-digested liquid.
Philoponella is a genus of uloborid spiders. Like all Uloboridae, these species have no venom.
Cribellum literally means "little sieve", and in biology the term generally applies to anatomical structures in the form of tiny perforated plates.
Uloborus walckenaerius, also known as the feather-legged spider, is a cribellate spider in the family Uloboridae. Like all spiders in this family, they do not have venom glands and immobilize their prey with over 140 metres of thread. They are named in honor of Charles Athanase Walckenaer.
Uloborus is a spider genus in the family Uloboridae with 79 described species. Most species occur in the tropics and subtropics, with only a few species in northern America and Europe.
The Deinopoidea or deinopoids are group of cribellate araneomorph spiders that may be treated as a superfamily. As usually circumscribed, the group contains two families: Deinopidae and Uloboridae.
Uloborus plumipes is a species of Old World cribellate spider in the family Uloboridae. Common names include the feather-legged lace weaver and the garden centre spider, the latter name being due to its frequent occurrence of this spider in garden centres. The species name is derived from the Latin pluma "feather" and pes "foot".
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight limbs, chelicerae with fangs generally able to inject venom, and spinnerets that extrude silk. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all orders of organisms. Spiders are found worldwide on every continent except Antarctica, and have become established in nearly every land habitat. As of September 2024, 52,309 spider species in 134 families have been recorded by taxonomists. However, there has been debate among scientists about how families should be classified, with over 20 different classifications proposed since 1900.
Hyptiotes paradoxus, also known as the triangle spider, is a cribellate orbweaver in the family Uloboridae.
Uloborus glomosus is a species of spider in the family Uloboridae. It is one of only a few Uloborus species found in North America and the only species found in Canada. Like all other species in the Uloboridae, Uloborus glomosus does not possess venom glands, relying instead on cribellate, a fuzzy non sticky silk that they use to trap and then wrap their prey. This species exhibits different disturbance behaviors depending on factors such as the time of day, and presence of eggsacs in the web. They may jump from the web, move to the edge, remain in the center, or jerk the web to shake it. If eggsacs are present, the female spider will jerk at the web and if not present, then the female spider will walk to the opposite side of the web.
Philoponella congregabilis, sometimes referred to as the little humped spider, is an Australian species of communal spider that, like other species of Uloboridae, does not use venom. Instead it wraps its prey in spider silk to crush it to death. The spider then goes on to regurgitate digestive fluid into the shroud, then consuming the pre-digested liquid. The specific name congregabilis translates to "community dwellers". The generic name Philoponella alludes to their industrious nature, "loving labour".
Waitkera is a genus of spiders in the family Uloboridae. It was first described in 1979 by Opell. As of 2021, it contains only one species, Waitkera waitakerensis, found in New Zealand.
Hyptiotes puebla is a species of cribellate orb weaver in the family of spiders known as Uloboridae. It is found in the United States and Mexico.
Hyptiotes cavatus, the triangle weaver, is a species of cribellate orb weaver in the family of spiders known as Uloboridae. It is found in the eastern United States and Canada.
Lehtineniana is a genus of South Pacific cribellate orb-weavers first described by Danniella Sherwood in 2022.
