Nesticodes Explained

Nesticodes is a monotypic genus of comb-footed spiders containing only the red house spider [''Nesticodes rufipes'' (Lucas, 1846)].^[1] It was first described by Allan Frost Archer in 1950,^[2] and has a pantropical distribution due to ship and air travel.^[3]

Description

Nesticodes rufipes is a small red-bodied spider, venomous, but not harmful to humans. They can be extremely common inside homes, building webs in dark corners and under furniture. They have been observed preying on insects such as mosquitoes,^[4] flies,^[5] and ants.^[6]

Further reading

• Lucas, 1846 : Histoire naturelle des animaux articules. Exploration scientifique de l'Algerie pendant les annees 1840, 1841, 1842 publiee par ordre du Gouvernement et avec le concours d'une commission academique. Paris, Sciences physiques, Zoologie,, .

Notes and References

1. Gen. Nesticodes Archer, 1950. World Spider Catalog Version 20.0. 2020-06-30. 2020. Natural History Museum Bern. 10.24436/2. Gloor. Daniel. Nentwig. Wolfgang. Blick. Theo. Kropf. Christian.
2. Archer. A. F.. 1950. A study of theridiid and mimetid spiders with descriptions of new genera and species. Museum Paper, Alabama Museum of Natural History. 1–40. 30. Allan_Frost_Archer.
3. Sekhar. R.. Sunil Jose. K.. 2017. New distributional records of Nesticodes rufipes (Lucas, 1846) in India. Munis Entomology and Zoology. 12. 2. 478–480.
4. Rossi. Marcelo N.. Godoy. Wesley A.C.. 2006. Prey Choice by Nesticodes rufipes (Araneae, Theridiidae) on Musca domestica (Diptera, Muscidae) and Dermestes ater (Coleoptera, Dermestidae). The Journal of Arachnology. 34. 1. 186–193. 0161-8202. 4489056. 10.1636/S04-7.1. 37948193.
5. Godoy. Wesley A. C. . Reigada. Carolina. Rossi. Marcelo N.. 2006. The role of habitat heterogeneity for the functional response of the spider Nesticodes rufipes (Araneae: Theridiidae) to houseflies. Applied Entomology and Zoology. 41. 3. 419–427. 10.1303/aez.2006.419. 0003-6862. free. 11449/17241. free.
6. Correa Bueno. Odair. Massuretti de Jesus. Carlos. Solis. Daniel Russ. Brescovit. Antônio Domingos. Fox. Eduardo. 2019-02-08. Immatures of Nesticodes rufipes (Araneae, Theridiidae) Causing Considerable Damage to Ant Colonies in the Laboratory. Figshare. en. 10.6084/m9.figshare.7695518.v1.