Theridiid spiders differ from Nesticidae, Araneidae, Linyphiidae, and most Symphytognathidae by usually lacking the fleshy colulus (Fig. 47) found in all these other families (Fig. 1) (not always in Symphytognathidae). Theridiidae usually have a tarsal comb (Fig. 80), but this is present also in Nesticidae. Those theridiid genera that have a fleshy colulus (Steatoda , Latrodectus, Argyrodes , Robertas, and Crustulina) have comb setae on the fourth metatarsus and tarsus (present also in Nesticidae, but absent in Argyrodes). Theridiids that have a fleshy colulus and combsetae on the fourth legs differ from Nesticidae by being dark colored, while Nesticidae are generally whitish, and by not having the paracymbium attached at the base of the cymbium of the male palpus, while in Nesticidae it is at the base of the cymbium and variously enlarged.
Levi, H.W., and D.E Randolph A 1975 key and checklist of American spiders of the family Theridiidae north of Mexico (Araneae) J Arachnol 3:31-51 A KEY AND CHECKLIST OF AMERICAN SPIDERS OF THE FAMILY THERIDIIDAE NORTH OF MEXICO (ARANEAE) Herbert W Levi and Diane E Randolph Museum of Comparative Zoology Harvard University Cambridge, Mass 02138 ABSTRACT It is difficult to define the family Theridiidae Mexico can be separated by a key There is The 27 genera of Theridiidae represented north of 229-234 species of Theridiidae from a checklist to the north of Mexico A simple key to the genera of Theridiidae A difficult to construct is needed for identifying mimeographed version of the key has had spiders, but is a limited circulation for several years as a tryout The checklist got bigger while had to be modified slightly style make not complete but go back only to the synonymy it is We want valuable Because of in preparation to the list first the expense of printing, the shorter Therefore the revision of the genus synonymies For a are complete necessary to consult the revisions thank V D Roth for encouraging to advice, theridiid spiders and W J this project, guiding and giving it Gertsch for his help throughout the study of American The key was prepared by H W Randolph The researchers have been supported Levi, and the checklist by D E from the Public Health by AI-01944 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and by a National Science Foundation Grant GB-36161 grants in part Service Research Grant INTRODUCTION Theridiid spiders from differ Nesticidae, Araneidae, Symphytognathidae by usually lacking the fleshy colulus and Linyphiidae, (Fig 47) found most in all these other families (Fig 1) (not always in Symphytognathidae) Theridiidae usually have a tarsal comb (Fig 80), but this have a fleshy colulus comb is present also in Nesticidae Those theridiid genera that (Steatoda Latrodectus Argyrodes Robertas, and Crustulina) have , , setae on the fourth metatarsus , and tarsus (present also in Nesticidae, but absent in Argyrodes) Theridiids that have a fleshy colulus and comb-setae on the fourth legs differ from Nesticidae by being dark colored, while Nesticidae are generally whitish, and by not having the paracymbium attached at the base of the cymbium of the male palpus, while in Nesticidae it is Members of at the base of the cymbium and variously enlarged the theridiid genus Argyrodes have a colulus, lack a 31 comb on the fourth THE JOURNAL OF ARACHNOLOGY 32 but differ from other families with a fleshy colulus by having the paracymbium a hook on the edge of the alveolus of the cymbium, hidden behind the bulb The paracymbium (P in illustrations) is attached at the base of the cymbium and variously expanded in Nesticidae and some Araneidae (Meta, Zygiella), a hook at the base in Araneus (Araneidae), or a separate sclerite in the palpus in Linyphiidae Some theridiids tarsus, small (e.g., Theridula, Paratheridula) lack a paracymbium The Symphytognathidae are probably polyphyletic, scondarily derived from the Theridiidae and Araneidae All are minute, less than mm, all lack a paracymbium in the many have the eyes reduced The carapace may be high, and both carapace and abdomen may be heavily sclerotized The division between Symphytognathidae and male palpus; Theridiidae The primitive, found is probably colulus its loss as arbitrary as that between Theridiidae and Nesticidae derived from vestigial anterior spinnerets and is is generally believed secondary However, the simplest male palpi in theridiid spiders are in genera that lack a colulus ( Theridula , Paratheridula , all Achaearanea) While the palpus of Theridula and Paratheridula might be interpreted as secondarily reduced, this probably is not the case various sclerites Achaearanea Achaearanea (and Dipoena) palpi show in may have complex linyphiid how the originated, possibly an early stage in the evolution of the palpus The complex appearing palpus of symphytognathids is secondarily simplified, judging by the absence or vestigial character of certain sclerites that are well developed in the theridiid palpus The limits of the hemisphere family Theridiidae are arbitrary Better knowledge of southern spiders, especially may make Symphytognathidae, it possible to define the family better KEY TO GENERA OF THERIDIIDAE IN AMERICA NORTH OF MEXICO (AND OF EUROPE) by Herbert W Levi la Abdomen sclerotized, with a series of humps and a sclerotized ring around spinnerets (Fig 20); carapace projecting anteriorly (Fig 20); less than 2.7 mm total length; one species in eastern U.S lb Abdomen Thoroncidia otherwise 2a(lb) A fleshy 2b Colulus absent (Fig 47) or replaced by two setae (Fig 19) 3a(2a) Tarsi longer than metatarsi; adults less than 1.3 3b Metatarsi equal to, or longer than colulus present between anterior spinnerets (Fig 1) tarsi; 10 mm long adults usually longer than 1.5 4a(3a) Six eyes, one rare species in California (Fig 2) 4b Eight eyes; one species from Alaska to southeastern states (Fig 3) 5a(3b) 5b 6a(5b) (Fig 5) Lateral eyes separated by Theonoe cymbium Crustulina Carapace, sternum not tuberculate, or only very slightly so (Fig 6); Comaroma Carapace, sternum with dumb-bell-shaped tubercles (Fig 4); palpal with a projection mm their diameter or more; chelicerae without teeth female internal genitalia with dumb-bell-shaped seminal receptacles and male palpus with coiled embolus (Figs 7, 8) Latrodectus LEVI AND RANDOLPH-KEY AND CHECKLIST OF THERIDIIDAE 6b Lateral eyes slightly separated at most 33 12); chelicerae (Fig with teeth (Figs 14, 15); genitalia otherwise 7a(6b) No comb on fourth setae male eye or clypeal region swollen and tarsus; below eyes projecting, or a groove (Fig 9); female abdomen higher than long with humps extending beyond spinnerets, or thread-shaped, often with spots (Figs 10, 11); middle tarsal claw often longer than laterals 7b Comb-setae on fourth tarsus modified; female silver spots; 8a(7b) 8b 9a(8b) Abdomen Abdomen abdomen middle tarsal (Fig 80); male eye or clypeal region never so oval to spherical (Figs claw smaller than 12, 13, 17), never with laterals without pattern, uniformly colored Robertus with a pattern (Figs 12, 13, 17) Female lacks large a tooth on posterior cheliceral margin; male chelicerae never Paracymbium hook not on edge of male palpal cymbium; many species purplish-brown to black in color, with a white abdomen 9b silver Argyrodes line around anterior of Steatoda (Figs 12, 13) Female with one tooth on posterior cheliceral margin male with chelicerae often enlarged (Fig 16); paracymbial hook on margin of cymbium at least (Fig 14); Enoplognatha (Fig 18) 10a(2b) Colulus replaced by two setae (Fig 19) 11 10b Colulus absent (Fig 47) 21 lla(10a) Posterior median eyes more than three diameters apart longer than wide, widest near anterior end (Fig 21); (Fig 21); eastern Spintharus states lib abdomen one species in Posterior median eyes at most two diameters apart; abdomen usually other- wise 12a(llb) 12 Abdomen longer than wide, dorso-ventrally flattened, widest posteriorly with median posterior or lateral posterior humps one species (Fig 22); in 12b Abdomen 13a(12b) Venter of abdomen and otherwise 13 its anterior overhang black (Figs 23, 24); variously shaped; eyes often reddish; palpal cymbium Coloration of abdomen supports embolus, con- ductor absent (Fig 25) 13b eastern Episinus states Chrosiothes abdomen otherwise; eyes not reddish; palpal cymbium never supporting embolus 14a(13b) Eyes large, posterior closely 14 grouped median eyes (Fig 26); eye region black except between (Fig 26); fourth legs longer first; abdomen often Stemmops First legs are longer than than with a white spot above spinnerets 14b If eyes closely grouped and eye region black then the fourth; abdomen mm mm 15a(14b) Total length 15b Total length greater than 16a(15a) Abdomen much less 15 rarely with white spot above spinnerets than 1.8 16 19 wider than long (Fig 27); rare; one species in Florida Tekellina THE JOURNAL OF ARACHNOLOGY 34 16b Abdomen 17a(16b) Anterior median eyes vestigial, minute, less than one-third that of laterals spherical to longer than wide one rare species (Fig 29); in 17 Arizona Styposis 17b Diameter of anterior median eyes equal to radius of others or larger 18a(17b) Anterior median eyes smaller than others (Figs 30, 31); chelicerae with teeth Pholcomma on anterior margin, denticles on posterior Diameter of anterior median eyes equal to others or larger (Figs 40, 41, 42, 45, 46); chelicerae without teeth; females with two pairs of seminal recepta- 18b 18 20 cles 19a(15b) Chelicerae with teeth on anterior and posterior margins, fangs short (Fig 33); abdomen than wide, often with dorsal longitudinal band oval, longer 32); one pair of seminal receptacles; 19b comb setae on fourth tarsus (Fig .Anelosimus abdomen comb setae Chelicerae without teeth, fang long and flattened (Figs 34-37); triangular to subspherical ; four seminal receptacles (Figs 38, 39); 20 lacking 20a(18, 19b) Abdomen usually triangular (Figs 40-42), widest anteriorly (Figs 40-42); male palpus without median apophysis (Fig 43); male carapace not modified; Euryopis fourth leg commonly longer than first 20b Abdomen usually spherical; median apophysis usually present in palpus, radix a separate sclerite (Fig 44); male carapace often modified or high (Figs 45,46) Dipoena 21a(10b) triangular, widest anteriorly; dorso-ventrally flattened; fourth legs Abdomen longer than first, lacking comb setae; two pairs of seminal receptacles 21b in Euryopis female Abdomen abdomen otherwise; first legs spherical; fourth with longer than fourth, comb or setae (Fig 80); if fourth longer, one pair of seminal receptacles in female (Fig 74) 22a(21b) Abdomen higher than long, often with streaks on sides (Figs 49, 51-53); male palpus with 22b Abdomen cymbium usually extending beyond bulb (Figs 48, 54, longer than high, to wider than long, to subspherical; not streaked; 23a(22a) 22 cymbium A narrow longitudinal rarely extending 55) if 23 high then beyond bulb 24 white line from highest point of abdomen to spinnerets 49); males minute with only one palpus; male palpus with median (Fig apophysis and radix (Fig 48); epigynum with a protruding knob (Fig 50) Tidarren 23b White two much line palpi, lacking wider or absent from abdomen (Figs 51-53); median apophysis; radix broadly attached males with (Figs 54, 55) A chaearanea 24a(22b) Abdomen longer than wide, high with tubercle or point above and posterior to spinnerets (Figs 56, 57); palpus with carapace is black and eyes small, it is all sclerites present (if the Coleosoma acutiv enter Fig whole 64) Chrysso 24b Abdomen otherwise, oval to spherical or wider than long 25 LEVI AND RANDOLPH-KEY AND CHECKLIST OF THERIDIIDAE 25a(24b) 35 Female abdomen wider than long, each lateral point dark prominent dorsal white spot (Fig 58); carapace band (Fig and abdomen with with wide black longitudinal 58); palpus very simple with a twisted embolus on distal tip bulb (Figs 59, 60) 25b 26a(25b) Abdomen, if embolus straight, is Theridula wider than long marked otherwise and male has simple palpus, not twisted 26 Males with simple palpus, lacking sclerites but having a straight distal embolus females with 3-6 dorsal black patches on oval epigynum a clear plate one species with two circular openings Gulf in abdomen (Fig 61); mm total (Fig 63), to 2.2 Paratheridula states Palpus with radix and median apophysis; 27a(26b) if (Fig 62); length, 26b of epigynum otherwise abdomen abdomen often 27 Males with sclerotized ring around encircling pedicel epigastric area (Figs 65, 66); constricted in middle (Figs 65, mm; 66); less than and covering females difficult to separate from Theridion or Chrvsso except for small eyes and projecting clypeus (Fig 64); three small species in southeastern U.S., one of which Males otherwise, or larger than 27b is found in Coleosoma Arizona mm; females rarely with projecting clypeus 28 28a(27b) Males usually with eye region of clypeus very high, bulging, projecting, or with groove in clypeus (Figs 68, 69); most orange in coloration; commonly with less than 1.5 orange in color; no scutum on is on long; rarely Theridion IN AMERICA NORTH by Diane Randolph and Herbert W Levi this spelling mm abdomen A CHECKLIST OF THE THERIDIIDAE *Name with long; often Thymoites Male eye region never modified; usually larger than 1.5 28b mm abdomen scuta on Official List of Generic Names in OF MEXICO Zoology and cannot be changed **Application has been made to place name on Official List Zoology Application not acted upon; thus existing usage ICZN) and has been used in preference over other names is of Generic Names to be maintained (Art in use in 80 of and not widely accepted Achaearanea Strand, 1929 Levi, 1955a (Revision); 1963b (Keys, Maps) Type species: A insignis (O.P.-Cambridge) acoreensis (Berland, 1932) Levi, 1955a: 20, 220; 1967a: 179, f f 39, 40, 46 (9 geochares ); 1963b: 12-14 (96) CA f 7-8 (9) UT, WY 96 canionis (Chamberlin and Gertsch, 1929) Levi, 1955a: 24, CA ambera Levi, 1963b: 204, 9d chiricahua Levi, 1955a: 26, f 57-59 (9); 1963b: 213, 96 conjuncta (Gertsch and Mulaik, 1936) Levi, 1955a: NC 96 florendida Levi, 1959c 1955a: 15, f Levi, 1955a: 27, f 39-40 14, f 60-68 (9d) UT, AZ, (6) AZ 14-18 (96) LA, 26-31 (96 florens); 1959c: 65, TX, TAM 96 fresno f f 53-55 (96) CA f MS,FL, 17, 20-21 (96) THE JOURNAL OF ARACHNOLOGY 36 96 globosa (Hentz, 1850) TAM and FL 9(5 insula (Gertsch Levi, 1955a: 9, f 19-25 and Mulaik, 1936) Levi, 1955a: 96 porteri (Banks, 1896) FL; NUL Levi, 1955a: 30, f mpicola (Emerton, 1882) Levi, 1955a: 21, ONT f KS to 1963b: 215 AL to (9c5); 1967a: 178, 9-11 f NOV to Anelosimus Simon, 1891 Levi, FL; 32-38 f Levi, 1955a: 28, tepidariorum (C L Koch, 1841) Levi, 1955a: 32, Type to 41-45 (96) TX, TAM (9(3); 1963b: 215 NY to 47-52, 56 Levi, 1955a: 17, 9d serenoae (Gertsch and Archer, 1942) ONT to 76-79 f 1959c: 61; 1963b; (9c3); BCA AL, FL (9