Theridula Explained

Theridula is a genus of cobweb spiders, found in many (mostly tropical) parts of the world. Species vary in size from 1 to 3.5 mm in length.^[1] In females, the abdomen is wider than long, with a hump or horn on each side, and sometimes a posterior median horn.^{[2] [3]} The pedipalp in males is simple, lacking a conductor or theridioid tegular apophysis.^{[4] [5]}

Theridula spiders are frequently found on bushes or tall grass where they rest on the undersides of leaves near their webs.

Species

• Theridula albonigra Caporiacco, 1949 (Kenya)
  • Theridula albonigra vittata Caporiacco, 1949 (Kenya)
• Theridula angula Tikader, 1970 (India)
• Theridula casas Levi, 1954 (Mexico)
• Theridula emertoni Levi, 1954 (USA, Canada)
• Theridula faceta (O. P.-Cambridge, 1894) (Mexico, Guatemala)
• Theridula gonygaster (Simon, 1873) (Cosmopolitan)
• Theridula huberti Benoit, 1977 (St. Helena)
• Theridula iriomotensis Yoshida, 2001 (Japan)
• Theridula multiguttata Keyserling, 1896 (Brazil)
• Theridula nigerrima (Petrunkevitch, 1911) (Ecuador, Peru)
• Theridula opulenta (Walckenaer, 1842) (Cosmopolitan)
• Theridula perlata Simon, 1889 (Madagascar)
• Theridula puebla Levi, 1954 (Mexico, Panama)
• Theridula pulchra Berland, 1920 (East Africa)
• Theridula sexpupillata Mello-Leitão, 1941 (Brazil)
• Theridula swatiae Biswas, Saha & Raychaydhuri, 1997 (India)
• Theridula theriella Strand, 1907 (Madagascar)
• Theridula zhangmuensis Hu, 2001 (China)

Notes and References

1. The Spider Genus Theridula in North and Central America and the West Indies (Araneae: Theridiidae). Levi. Herbert W.. Transcriptions of American Microscopical Society. October 1954. 73. 4. 331–343. 10.2307/3223578. American Microscopical Society. 3223578.
2. Book: Comstock, John Henry. The Spider Book. Cornell University Press. 1975. First published 1912. 354–355.
3. The Theridiidae or Comb-footed Spiders of Alabama. Allan F.. Archer. Museum Papers of the Alabama Museum of Natural History. 22. 1946. 31.
4. American Spider Genera Theridula and Paratheridula (Araneae: Theridiidae). Levi. Herbert W.. Psyche: A Journal of Entomology. 1966. 73. 123–130. 10.1155/1966/12793. 2. free.
5. Morphology and Evolution of Cobweb Spider Male Genitalia (Araneae, Theridiidae). Ingi. Agnarsson. Jonathan A. Coddington . Barbara Knoflach . The Journal of Arachnology. 2007. 35. 334–395. 10.1636/SH-06-36.1. 2. 43502439.