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