Theridiidae Molione

Molione triacantha Thorell, 1892

Three-spined Girdled Comb-footed Spider

The genus Molione was established by the Swedish arachnologist Teodor Thorell in 1892, after studying a female collected in Singapore by Thomas Workman, an Irish amateur who periodically visited Singapore on business in the 19th century.

Based on a number of unusual features not seen in most other theridiids, Thorell must have concluded the Singapore species should be placed in a new genus. These features include a sclerotised collar or girdle around the front part of the venter and another sclerotised collar around the spinnerets.

Since then, other Molione sharing these characteristics have been discovered elsewhere in tropical Asia. All are tiny spiders (not exceeding 3 mm) with a glossy carapace. T. triacantha differs from almost all of them by the presence of three spine-like tubercles on the dorsum.