Tangle web spider
From Free net encyclopedia
Current revision
{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| name = Tangle web spiders
| image = BlackWidowSpider.jpeg
| image_width = 200px
| image_caption = Black Widow spider
| regnum = Animalia
| phylum = Arthropoda
| classis = Arachnida
| ordo = Araneae
| familia = Theridiidae
| familia_authority = Sundevall, 1833
| subdivision_ranks = Genera
| subdivision =
Achaearanea
Argyrodes
Latrodectus
Steatoda
Theridion
}}
The tangle-web spiders, also known as cobweb spiders and comb-footed spiders (family Theridiidae) are a large group (over 2000 species in nearly 80 genera) of haphazard web-builders found throughout the world. The characteristics of this family of spiders are that they are entelegyne (have a genital plate in the female) araneomorph ecribellate (use sticky capture silk instead of woolly silk) spiders that build tangle space webs and have a comb of serrated bristles (setae) on the tarsus of the forth leg. The family includes the genus Latrodectus the notorious widow spiders
The family also contains the clyptoparasitic species of Argyrodes, which often have triangular or worm-like bodies. These strange creatures live in the webs of larger spiders and eat prey caught by their host's web. They sometimes attack and eat the host.
Many species of the nominate genus Theridion are known, as well as Achaearanea, the genus that includes the common house spider. At least some members of the genus Steatoda trap ants and other ground dwelling insects by means of elastic sticky silk trap lines leading to the soil surface.
One species in this genus, Theridion grallator, is known as the "happyface" spider, as certain mutations uncannily resemble the pattern of a smiley face on its yellow body.
External links
fr:Theridiidae is:Kambfætlur ja:ヒメグモ科 lt:Kilpininkai nl:Kogelspinnen zh:姬蜘科