Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Chelicerates (Chelicerata) » Arachnids (Arachnida) » Spiders (Araneae) » True Spiders (Araneomorphae) » Entelegynae » Cobweb Spiders (Theridiidae) » Parasteatoda

Genus Parasteatoda

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Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Chelicerata (Chelicerates)
Class Arachnida (Arachnids)
Order Araneae (Spiders)
Infraorder Araneomorphae (True Spiders)
No Taxon (Entelegynae)
Family Theridiidae (Cobweb Spiders)
Genus Parasteatoda
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
See the World Spider Catalog.
Numbers
There are two species in BugGuide's range (North America north of Mexico): P. tabulata and P. tepidariorum.
Identification
Caution is warranted when trying to distinguish between the two North American species. The only reliable way to distinguish the females is to dissect the epigynum and look at the dorsal side.

Examples of the epigyna from the dorsal aspect appear below:

P. tabulata/P. tepidariorum
Range
Parasteatoda tabulata - NY, ON, QC, NB, NF (that's from published records only; this species is very likely in other places, as well).
Parasteatoda tepidariorum - widespread all over North America.
Contributed by Jeff Hollenbeck on 25 May, 2008 - 10:29am
Additional contributions by Lynette Elliott, cheins, Mandy Howe
Last updated 18 January, 2024 - 10:37am

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