Scaffold web spider

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.

Genera

, this family includes sixteen genera and 292 species:

• Aituaria <small>Esyunin & Efimik, 1998</small> – Georgia, Iran, Turkey, Ukraine, Russia
• Canarionesticus <small>Wunderlich, 1992</small> – Canary Islands
• Carpathonesticus <small>Lehtinen & Saaristo, 1980</small> – Georgia, Romania, Ukraine, Russia
• Cyclocarcina <small>Kishida, 1942</small> – Japan
• Daginesticus <small>Fomichev, Ballarin & Marusik, 2022</small> – Georgia, Russia
• Domitius <small>Ribera, 2018</small> – Italy, Portugal, Spain
• Eidmannella <small>Roewer, 1935</small> – Mexico, United States, Argentina, Brazil. Introduced to Japan, Israel, Italy, Macaronesia, Spain, France, Galapagos, Pacific Islands, Britain
• Howaia <small>Lehtinen & Saaristo, 1980</small> – China, Japan, Korea. Introduced to St. Helena, Azerbaijan, Pacific islands
• Kryptonesticus <small>Pavlek & Ribera, 2017</small> – Southern Europe. Introduced to New Zealand
• Nesticella <small>Lehtinen & Saaristo, 1980</small> – Africa, Asia, Russia, Oceania, Brazil
• Nesticus <small>Thorell, 1869</small> – São Tomé and Príncipe, Tanzania, Afghanistan, Japan, Korea, Caucasus, Turkey, Slovakia, Romania, North to South America
• Pseudonesticus <small>Liu & Li, 2013</small> – China
• Sacarum <small>Esyunin & Efimik, 2022</small> – Russia
• Speleoticus <small>Ballarin & Li, 2016</small> – China, Japan
• Typhlonesticus <small>Kulczyński, 1914</small> – Turkey, Alps, Southern Europe, North America
• Wraios <small>Ballarin & Li, 2015</small> – China

The following extinct genera have been placed in the Nesticidae:

• †Balticonesticus <small>Wunderlich, 1986</small> – Palaeogene, Baltic amber
• †Eopopino <small>Petrunkevitch, 1942</small> – Palaeogene, Baltic and Bitterfeld amber
• †Heteronesticus <small>Wunderlich, 1986</small> – Palaeogene, Baltic amber
• †Hispanonesticus <small>Wunderlich, 1986</small> – Neogene, Dominican amber

References

External links