Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Cobweb Spider: Theridiidae

Cobweb Spider, Steatoda triangulosa
Known as cobweb spiders, tangle-web spiders, or comb-footed spiders, the highly diverse family Theridiidae makes great use of three-dimensional webs. The diversity of this family is not limited to just species numbers, but also the behavior, ecology, and morphology of the group. Famous members of this family include the Black Widow of the genus Latrodectus, the common house spider, kleptoparasitic spiders, and most social spiders. These are also the spiders famous for liquefying the organs of their prey with digestive fluids leaving only an empty shell.

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