Theridiidae
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 around 3,000 species in 128 genera, and is the most common arthropod group found in human dwellings throughout the world.
Theridiid spiders are both entelegyne, meaning that the females have a genital plate, and ecribellate, meaning that they spin sticky capture silk instead of woolly silk. They have a comb of serrated bristles on the tarsus of the fourth leg.
The family includes some model organisms for research, including the List of medically significant [spider bites|medically important] widow spiders. They are important to studies characterizing their venom and its clinical manifestation, but widow spiders are also used in research on spider silk and sexual biology, including sexual cannibalism. Anelosimus are also model organisms, used for the study of sociality, because it has evolved frequently within the genus, allowing comparative studies across species, and because it contains species varying from solitary to permanently social. These spiders are also a promising model for the study of inbreeding because all permanently social species are highly inbred.
The Hawaiian Theridion grallator is used as a model to understand the selective forces and the genetic basis of color polymorphism within species. T. grallator is known as the "happyface" spider, as certain morphs have a pattern resembling a smiley face or a grinning clown face on their yellow body.
Webs
They often build tangle space webs, hence the common name, but Theridiidae has a large diversity of spider web forms. Many trap ants and other ground dwelling insects using elastic, sticky silk trap lines leading to the soil surface. Webs remain in place for extended periods and are expanded and repaired, but no regular pattern of web replacement has been observed.The well studied kleptoparasitic members of Argyrodinae live in the webs of larger spiders and pilfer small prey caught by their host's web. They eat prey killed by the host spider, consume silk from the host web, and sometimes attack and eat the host itself.
Theridiid gumfoot-webs consist of frame lines that anchor them to surroundings and of support threads, which possess viscid silk. These can either have a central retreat or a peripheral retreat. Building gum-foot lines is a unique, stereotyped behaviour, and is likely homologous for Theridiidae and its sister family Nesticidae.
Among webs without gumfooted lines, some contain viscid silk and some that are sheet-like, which do not contain viscid silk. However, there are many undescribed web forms.
Taxonomy
The largest genus is Theridion with over 600 species, but it is not monophyletic. Parasteatoda, previously Achaearanea, is another large genus that includes the North American common house spider.Genera
, this family includes 138 genera and 2,619 species:Achaearanea Strand, 1929 – Gabon, Comoros, South Africa, Ivory Coast, China, Southeast Asia, India, Canary Islands, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Panama, Australia, South AmericaAchaearyopa Barrion & Litsinger, 1995 – PhilippinesAchaeridion Wunderlich, 2008 – TurkeyAllothymoites Ono, 2007 – China, Japan, VietnamAmeridion Wunderlich, 1995 – North America, South AmericaAnatea Berland, 1927 – Australia, New CaledoniaAnatolidion Wunderlich, 2008 – Algeria, Morocco, EuropeAnelosimus Simon, 1891 – Africa, Asia, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Mexico, United States, Australia, New Guinea, South AmericaAnttheridion Jocqué & Vanuytven, 2025 – Democratic Republic of the Congo, MalaysiaArgyrodella Saaristo, 2006 – Madagascar, SeychellesArgyrodes Simon, 1864 – Africa, Asia, Canary Islands, Jamaica, Hawaii, Mexico, United States, Oceania, French Guiana, Galapagos, Peru, Caribbean to Argentina, East Africa, Mediterranean to West Africa, Tongatabu. Introduced to Seychelles, South Africa, St. Helena, India, Hawaii, Madagascar?Ariamnes Thorell, 1869 – DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, South Africa, Guinea-Bissau, Asia, Cuba, Hispaniola, Costa Rica, Panama, Hawaii, Mexico, Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Brazil, PeruAsagena Sundevall, 1833 – Algeria, Tunisia, Asia, Switzerland, Russia, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, France, North AmericaAsiopisinus Hu, Wei, Liu & Xu, 2025 – Eastern AsiaAsygyna Agnarsson, 2006 – MadagascarAudifia Keyserling, 1884 – Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Bolivia, BrazilBardala Saaristo, 2006 – SeychellesBorneoridion Deeleman & Wunderlich, 2011 – MalaysiaBrunepisinus Yoshida & Koh, 2011 – BorneoCabello Levi, 1964 – VenezuelaCameronidion Wunderlich, 2011 – MalaysiaCampanicola Yoshida, 2015 – Eastern AsiaCanalidion Wunderlich, 2008 – Russia, ScandinaviaCarniella Thaler & Steinberger, 1988 – Angola, China, Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, Nepal, Central Europe, Romania, BelgiumCephalobares O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871 – China, India, Sri LankaCerocida Simon, 1894 – Brazil, Guyana, VenezuelaChikunia Yoshida, 2009 – Asia, RussiaChorizopella Lawrence, 1947 – South AfricaChrosiothes Simon, 1894 – Eastern Asia, Dominican Rep, Jamaica, St. Vincent, Mexico, United States, South AmericaChrysso O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1882 – Asia, Hungary, Russia, France, Trinidad, Costa Rica, Panama, North America, South AmericaColeosoma O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1882 – Cape Verde, AsiaCoscinida Simon, 1895 – Angola, Congo, Tanzania, Asia, southern EuropeCraspedisia Simon, 1894 – China, Hispaniola, BrazilCrustulina Menge, 1868 – Ethiopia, Madagascar, Tanzania, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Asia, Canary Islands, Ukraine, Russia, Jamaica, North America, Australia, New Caledonia, New Guinea, East AfricaCryptachaea Archer, 1946 – Asia, Russia, Trinidad, Costa Rica, Panama, North America, Australia, New Zealand, South AmericaCyllognatha L. Koch, 1872 – India, Australia, SamoaDeelemanella Yoshida, 2003 – Madagascar, Malaysia, Papua New GuineaDipoena Thorell, 1869 – Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Australia, Vanuatu, South AmericaDipoenata Wunderlich, 1988 – Madeira, Malta, Panama, Brazil, VenezuelaDipoenura Simon, 1909 – Sierra Leone, China, Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam, IndiaEchinotheridion Levi, 1963 – Canary Islands, Madeira, South AmericaEmertonella Bryant, 1945 – China, Mexico, United States. Introduced to China, Japan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New GuineaEnoplognatha Pavesi, 1880 – South Africa, Cape Verde, Asia, Europe, North America, Australia, Chile, Peru, North Africa. Introduced to St. Helena, CanadaEpisinus Walckenaer, 1809 – Africa, Asia, Europe, Panama, Mexico, United States, New Zealand, South AmericaEuryopis Menge, 1868 – Africa, Asia, Europe, Jamaica, North America, Australia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Argentina, Bolivia, BrazilEurypoena Wunderlich, 1992 – Cape Verde, Canary IslandsExalbidion Wunderlich, 1995 – Guatemala, Panama, Mexico, Caribbean to BrazilFaiditus Keyserling, 1884 – North America, South AmericaFamakytta Pett & Agnarsson, 2025 – Madagascar, Seychelles, Korea, India, New GuineaGlebych Eskov & Marusik, 2021 – PeruGmogala Keyserling, 1890 – Australia, New GuineaGrancanaridion Wunderlich, 2011 – Canary IslandsGuaraniella Baert, 1984 – Brazil, ParaguayGushangzao Lin & Li, 2024 – China, JapanGyro Lin & Li, 2024 – ChinaHadrotarsus Thorell, 1881 – Taiwan, Australia, New Guinea. Introduced to BelgiumHelenidion Sherwood, Marusik, Fowler, Stevens & Joshua, 2024 – St. HelenaHelvibis Keyserling, 1884 – Trinidad, Panama, Brazil, Chile, PeruHelvidia Thorell, 1890 – IndonesiaHentziectypus Archer, 1946 – North America, Bolivia, Brazil, ColombiaHeterotheridion Wunderlich, 2008 – China, Caucasus, Iran, Turkey, RussiaHetschkia Keyserling, 1886 – BrazilHistagonia Simon, 1895 – Botswana, South AfricaIcona Forster, 1955 – New ZealandJamaitidion Wunderlich, 1995 – JamaicaJanula Strand, 1932 – Asia, North America, Australia, South AmericaKeijiella Yoshida, 2016 – Eastern Asia, LaosKnoflachia Marusik & Eskov, 2024 – RussiaKochiura Archer, 1950 – Cape Verde, St. Helena, Western Asia, Canary Islands, Madeira, Brazil, Chile, North Africa, Juan Fernández IslandsLandoppo Barrion & Litsinger, 1995 – PhilippinesLasaeola Simon, 1881 – Asia, Azores, Canary Islands, Russia, Portugal, Spain, Panama, Mexico, United States, Peru, VenezuelaLatrodectus Walckenaer, 1805 – Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, New Zealand, South AmericaLokitandroka Pett & Agnarsson, 2025 – Comoros, MadagascarMacaridion Wunderlich, 1992 – Canary Islands, MadeiraMagnopholcomma Wunderlich, 2008 – AustraliaMegama Hu, Zhong, Liu & Li, 2026 – China, JapanMeotipa Simon, 1895 – Asia, Pacific Islands. Introduced to Americas, Tropical AfricaMolione Thorell, 1893 – AsiaMoneta O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871 – Seychelles, Asia, Russia, Australia, New Caledonia, New ZealandMontanidion Wunderlich, 2011 – MalaysiaNanume Saaristo, 2006 – SeychellesNeopisinus Marques, Buckup & Rodrigues, 2011 – Cuba, Hispaniola, Panama, Mexico, Brazil, PeruNeospintharus Exline, 1950 – Madagascar, Seychelles, Asia, Cyprus, Greece, Panama, North America, South AmericaNeottiura Menge, 1868 – Algeria, Asia, EuropeNesopholcomma Ono, 2010 – JapanNesticodes Archer, 1950 – Central. Introduced to St. Helena, China, Japan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Macaronesia, New Zealand, North Africa, Pacific IslandsNihonhimea Yoshida, 2016 – Seychelles, Asia. Introduced to Pakistan, Australia, New GuineaNipponidion Yoshida, 2001 – JapanNojimaia Yoshida, 2009 – China, JapanOhlertidion Wunderlich, 2008 – Russia, North AmericaOkumaella Yoshida, 2009 – Japan, KoreaPaidiscura Archer, 1950 – Cape Verde, China, Japan, Korea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Europe, North Africa to Middle EastParasteatoda Archer, 1946 – Tunisia, Asia, Russia, Australia, New Guinea, Solomon IslandsParatheridula Levi, 1957 – USA to ChilePholcomma Thorell, 1869 – Japan, Caucasus, Iran, Turkey, Azores, North America, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Argentina, Brazil, North AfricaPhoroncidia Westwood, 1835 – Africa, Asia, Europe, Cuba, Jamaica, North America, Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Samoa, South AmericaPhycosoma O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1880 – Africa, Madagascar, Seychelles, Asia, Russia, Jamaica, Panama, New Zealand, Galapagos. Introduced to HawaiiPhylloneta Archer, 1950 – Asia, Russia, Spain, United States, North Africa. Introduced to St. HelenaPhyscoa Thorell, 1895 – ChinaPlatnickina Koçak & Kemal, 2008 – Kenya, Cape Verde, Asia, Russia, North AmericaProboscidula Miller, 1970 – Angola, RwandaPropostira Simon, 1894 – India, Sri LankaPycnoepisinus Wunderlich, 2008 – KenyaRhinocosmetus Vanuytven, Jocqué & Deeleman-Reinhold, 2024 – AsiaRhinoliparus Vanuytven, Jocqué & Deeleman-Reinhold, 2024 – Southeast Asia, Australia, New Caledonia, Papua New GuineaRhomphaea L. Koch, 1872 – Mozambique, Seychelles, Tanzania, South Africa, St. Helena, Asia, Europe, St. Vincent, New Zealand, French Polynesia, Samoa, Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela. Introduced to IndiaRobertus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1879 – Democratic Republic of the Congo, Asia, Europe, North AmericaRuborridion Wunderlich, 2011 – India, SpainRugathodes Archer, 1950 – Kazakhstan, Japan, Iran, Azores, Canary Islands, Madeira, Russia, North America. Introduced to BritainSardinidion Wunderlich, 1995 – Georgia, Turkey, North AfricaSelkirkiella Berland, 1924 – Argentina, Chile, Falkland IslandsSesato Saaristo, 2006 – SeychellesSeycellesa Koçak & Kemal, 2008 – SeychellesSimitidion Wunderlich, 1992 – Tunisia, Kazakhstan, Western Asia, Canary Islands, Cyprus, Greece, Spain, North Africa. Introduced to CanadaSpheropistha Yaginuma, 1957 – Eastern Asia, AustraliaSpinembolia Saaristo, 2006 – Seychelles, China, IndonesiaSpintharus Hentz, 1850 – North America, Brazil, Saint KittsSteatoda Sundevall, 1833 – WorldwideStemmops O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1894 – Asia, North America, South AmericaStoda Saaristo, 2006 – SeychellesStyposis Simon, 1894 – Congo, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Panama, United States, South AmericaTakayus Yoshida, 2001 – China, Japan, Korea, RussiaTamanidion Wunderlich, 2011 – MalaysiaTheonoe Simon, 1881 – Tanzania, Austria, Germany, Spain, North AmericaTheridion Walckenaer, 1805 – WorldwideTheridula Emerton, 1882 – Kenya, Madagascar, Tunisia, China, Japan, Korea, Madeira, Spain, Guatemala, Panama, North America, Brazil, Ecuador, PeruThwaitesia O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1881 – Africa, China, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka, Trinidad, Australia, New Guinea, BrazilThymoites Keyserling, 1884 – Tanzania, China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, Russia, Scandinavia, North America, South AmericaTidarren Chamberlin & Ivie, 1934 – Africa, Yemen, Canary Islands, Spain. Introduced to VenezuelaTomoxena Simon, 1895 – Indonesia, IndiaTroglotheridion Hu & Liu, 2025 – ChinaTrust Sherwood, Marusik, Wilkins, P. Ashmole & M. Ashmole, 2024 – St. HelenaVigdisia Agnarsson, Kuntner, Yu & Gregorič, 2025 – MadagascarWamba O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1896 – Panama, United States, Ecuador, Caribbean to ArgentinaWirada Keyserling, 1886 – Mexico, South AmericaYoroa Baert, 1984 – Australia, New GuineaYunohamella Yoshida, 2007 – China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Poland, Russia, Estonia, FinlandZercidium Benoit, 1977 – St. HelenaAbout 35 extinct genera have also been placed in the family. The oldest known stem-group member of the family is Cretotheridion from the Cenomanian aged Burmese amber of Myanmar.