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,[1] many of which are associated with caves or overhangs.[2] 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.
| Scaffold web spiders Temporal range:
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| Nesticus sp., male | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Nesticidae Simon, 1894 |
| Diversity | |
| 16 genera, 288 species | |
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Genera
editAs of August 2023[update], the World Spider Catalog accepts the following genera:[1]
- Aituaria Esyunin & Efimik, 1998 — Ukraine, Russia, Georgia
- Canarionesticus Wunderlich, 1992 — Canary Is.
- Carpathonesticus Lehtinen & Saaristo, 1980 — Europe, Asia
- Cyclocarcina Komatsu, 1942 — Japan
- Daginesticus Fomichev, Ballarin & Marusik, 2022 — Russia, Georgia
- Domitius Ribera, 2018 — Spain, Portugal, Italy
- Eidmannella Roewer, 1935 — North America, Spain, Japan
- Howaia Lehtinen & Saaristo, 1980 — Asia, Europe, St. Helena, Pacific Islands
- Kryptonesticus Pavlek & Ribera, 2017 — Europe, New Zealand
- Nesticella Lehtinen & Saaristo, 1980 — Asia, Africa, Oceania, Brazil
- Nesticus Thorell, 1869 — Asia, Africa, Cuba, North America, South America, Europe
- Pseudonesticus Liu & Li, 2013 — China
- Sacarum Esyunin & Efimik, 2022 — Russia
- Speleoticus Ballarin & Li, 2016 — China, Japan
- Typhlonesticus Kulczyński, 1914 — Europe
- Wraios Ballarin & Li, 2015 — China
The following extinct genera have been placed in the Nesticidae:[3]
- †Balticonesticus Wunderlich, 1986 – Palaeogene, Baltic amber
- †Eopopino Petrunkevitch, 1942 – Palaeogene, Baltic and Bitterfeld amber
- †Heteronesticus Wunderlich, 1986 – Palaeogene, Baltic amber
- †Hispanonesticus Wunderlich, 1986 – Neogene, Dominican amber
See also
editReferences
edit
- ^ a b "Family: Nesticidae Simon, 1894". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
- ^ Hedin, M.; Dellinger, B. (2005). "Descriptions of a new species and previously unknown males of Nesticus (Araneae: Nesticidae) from caves in Eastern North America, with comments on species rarity" (PDF). Zootaxa. 904: 1. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.904.1.1. S2CID 85774720.
- ^ Dunlop, J.A.; Penney, D.; Jekel, D. (2015). "A summary list of fossil spiders and their relatives" (PDF). World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. Retrieved 2015-11-11.