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Theridiidae Parasteatoda

Parasteatoda tepidariorum (C. L. Koch, 1841)

Glasshouse Spider

This spider is commonly found in temperate countries, often in or near dwellings, especially heated greenhouses. In Singapore, it occurred some 50 years ago in poorly maintained properties such as warehouses, but it is rarely found nowadays. This species is the designated representative of the genus Parasteatoda, with its reproductive organs regarded to be typical of the genus. Morphologically, the abdomen is shaped like a balloon with the spinnerets pointing ventrally (downwards). Both sexes show a variety of abdominal patterns with irregular markings ranging from yellowish brown, greyish brown to dark brown. They may be more easily identified through indirect clues such as their untidy tangle webs and their presence near human habitation.

Length♀ 5–7 mm; ♂ 3–5 mm
Type LocalityErlanger, Germany
DistributionCosmopolitan, including Singapore, Germany.
HabitatUsually associated with human habitation – inside or near buildings, sometimes in forested areas.
BiologyTeardrop-shaped, greyish brown and tough papery egg sacs are suspended within the tangle web.

Taxonomy

Taxonomic references*

  1. Theridion pallidum (Original description ♀)

    Walckenaer, 1841 Histoire naturelle des Insects. Aptères. Tome deuxième: 321 doi:10.5962/bhl.title.61095

  2. Theridium tepidariorum (Original description ♂♀)

    C. L. Koch, 1841a Die Arachniden: vol. 8: 75, f. 646-648 doi:10.5962/bhl.title.43744

  3. Theridion vulgare (Original description ♀)

    Hentz, 1850 Descriptions and figures of the araneides of the United States: 271, pl. 9, f. 1

  4. Steatoda tepidariorum

    Thorell, 1856 Recensio critica aranearum suecicarum quas descripserunt Clerckius, Linnaeus, de Geerus: 108

  5. Theridion tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Blackwall, 1864a A history of the spiders of Great Britain and Ireland. Part II: 180, pl. 13, f. 114 doi:10.5962/bhl.title.143674

  6. Theridium marmoreum (Original description ♀)

    Holmberg, 1876 Arácnidos argentinos: 14

  7. Theridium tepidariorum (Synonym of Theridion vulgare)

    Emerton, 1876 Spiders common to New England and Europe: 129 doi:10.1155/1876/32587

  8. Theridium tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Emerton, 1882 New England spiders of the family Theridiidae: 13, pl. 2, f. 1

  9. Theridium tepidatorium (mf, Synonym of Theridion marmoreum)

    Keyserling, 1884a Die Spinnen Amerikas. Theridiidae. I. Hälfte: 9, pl. 1, f. 1 doi:10.5962/bhl.title.64832

  10. Theridium varium (Original description ♂♀)

    Urquhart, 1886 On the spiders of New Zealand: 187, pl. 6, f. 3

  11. Theridium tepidariorum (Synonym of Theridium varium)

    Urquhart, 1892a Catalogue of the described species of New Zealand Araneidae: 187

  12. Theridion tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Chyzer & Kulczyński, 1894 Araneae Hungariae. Tomus II: 35, pl. 1, f. 38

  13. Theridion tepidariorum (♂)

    Simon, 1894a Histoire naturelle des araignées. Deuxième édition, tome premier: 536, f. 545 doi:10.5962/bhl.title.51973

  14. Theridion tepidariorum (2)

    Becker, 1896 Les arachnides de Belgique, deuxième et troisième parties doi:10.5962/bhl.title.48721

  15. Theridion tepidariorum (♀)

    Tullgren, 1901a On the spiders collected in Florida by Dr: 5, pl. 1, f. 1

  16. Theridion tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Bösenberg, 1902 Die Spinnen Deutschlands: 96, pl. 8, f. 115 doi:10.5962/bhl.title.6508

  17. Theridium tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Emerton, 1902 The common spiders of the United States: 111, f. 256-260 doi:10.5962/bhl.title.5617

  18. Steatoda tepidariorum (♂♀)

    F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1902a Arachnida - Araneida and Opiliones: 382, pl. 36, f. 1-2

  19. Theridion tepidariorum (♂)

    Kulczyński, 1905a Fragmenta arachnologica: 561, pl. 14, f. 24

  20. Theridion tepidariorum (♀)

    Engelhardt, 1910 Beiträge zur Kenntnis der weiblichen Copulationsorgane einiger Spinnen: 68, f. 21-23

  21. Theridion tepidariorum (Synonym of Theridion sisyphoides, revalidated by Chamberlin & Ivie, 1944: 57)

    Petrunkevitch, 1911 A synonymic index-catalogue of spiders of North, Central and South America with all adjacent islands, Greenland, Bermuda, West Indies, Terra del Fuego, Galapagos, etc: 207

  22. Theridion tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Simon, 1914 Les arachnides de France. Synopsis générale et catalogue des espèces françaises de l'ordre des Araneae. Tome VI. 1re partie: 260, 296, f. 518

  23. Theridion tepidariorum (Synonym of Theridion sericum; rejected by Hann, 1994: 236, see Steatoda grossa)

    Dalmas, 1917a Araignées de Nouvelle-Zélande: 356

  24. Theridion tepidariorum

    Saitō, 1933b Notes on the spiders from Formosa: 42, pl

  25. Theridion tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Wiehle, 1937 Spinnentiere oder Arachnoidea: 155, f. 91-94

  26. Theridion tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Comstock, 1940 The spider book, revised and edited by W. J. Gertsch: 360, f. 342-343

  27. Theridion tepidariorum (♂)

    Nakatsudi, 1942a Arachnida from Izu-Sitito: 301, f. 30

  28. Theridion tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Muma, 1943 Common spiders of Maryland: 67, pl. XIII, f. 5-6

  29. Theridion tepidariorum (Synonym of Theridion pallidum)

    Chamberlin & Ivie, 1944 Spiders of the Georgia region of North America: 55

  30. Theridion tepidariorum (♂)

    Denis, 1945a Sur quelques Theridion appartenant à la faune de France: 111, f. 2, 5 doi:10.3406/bsef.1944.15782

  31. Parasteatoda tepidariorum (Transferred from Theridion)

    Archer, 1946 The Theridiidae or comb-footed spiders of Alabama: 38

  32. Theridion tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Kaston, 1948 Spiders of Connecticut: 103, f. 155-161

  33. Theridion tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Locket & Millidge, 1953 British spiders. Vol. II: 63, f. 43D, F

  34. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Levi, 1955a The spider genera Coressa and Achaearanea in America north of Mexico (Araneae, Theridiidae): 32, f. 69-70, 83-84

  35. Theridion tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Saito, 1959 The Spider Book Illustrated in Colours: 72, f. 71a-j

  36. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Abalos & Báez, 1963 On spermatic transmission in spiders: 203, f. 16-19, 29-30 doi:10.1155/1963/93732

  37. Theridion tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Lee, 1966 [Spiders of Formosa (Taiwan)]: 28, f. 6e-h

  38. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♀)

    Abalos, 1967 La transferencia espermática en las arácnidos: 273, f. 12A

  39. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Levi, 1967c Cosmopolitan and pantropical species of theridiid spiders (Araneae: Theridiidae): 178, f. 9-11

  40. Theridium tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Azheganova, 1968 Kratkii opredelitel' paukov (Aranei) lesnoi i lesostepnoi zony SSSR: 60, f. 116-117

  41. Theridium tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Tystshenko, 1971 Opredelitel' paukov evropejskoj chasti SSSR: 150, f. 408, 432

  42. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Miller, 1971 Pavouci-Araneida: 192, pl. XXXIV, f. 22, pl. XXXV, f. 1

  43. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Locket & Łuczak, 1974 Achaearanea simulans (Thorell) and its relationship to Achaearanea tepidariorum (C: 267, f. 1A, 2A, 5

  44. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♀)

    Locket, Millidge & Merrett, 1974 British Spiders, Volume III: 52, f. 29A

  45. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Martin, 1974b Morphologie und Biologie der Kugelspinne Achaearanea simulans (Thorell, 1875) (Araneae: Theridiidae): 251, f. 1a, pl. I, f. 1, pl. II, f. 4, 6

  46. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂)

    Palmgren, 1974b Die Spinnenfauna Finnlands und Ostfennoskandiens: 31, f. 7.11

  47. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂)

    Levi & Randolph, 1975 A key and checklist of American spiders of the family Theridiidae north of Mexico (Araneae): 36, f. 52, 55

  48. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♀)

    Chrysanthus, 1975 Further notes on the spiders of New Guinea II (Araneae, Tetragnathidae, Theridiidae): 45, f. 168

  49. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♀)

    Wozny, 1976 On some anomalies in spiders: 217, f. 5b

  50. Theridion tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Song, 1980 [Farm Spiders]: 138, f. 74a-e

  51. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂)

    Roth, 1982 Handbook for spider identification: 47-9, f. 52, 55

  52. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂)

    Heimer, 1982 Interne Arretierungsmechanismen an der Kopulationsorganen männlicher Spinnen (Arachnida, Araneae): 41, f. 6

  53. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂)

    Yin, Wang & Hu, 1983 Essential types and the evolution of palpal organ of spiders: 34, f. 5B

  54. Theridion tepidariorum (♀)

    Hu, 1984 The Chinese spiders collected from the fields and the forests: 173, f. 181.1-2

  55. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂)

    Roth, 1985 Spider genera of North America: B43-9, f. 52, 55

  56. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Roberts, 1985 The spiders of Great Britain and Ireland, Volume 1: Atypidae to Theridiosomatidae: 182, f. 81a

  57. Theridion tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Guo, 1985 [Farm spiders from Shaanxi Province]: 99, f. 2-43.1-3

  58. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Zhu & Shi, 1985 [Crop field spiders of Shanxi Province]: 98, f. 84a-d

  59. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Yaginuma, 1986a Spiders of Japan in color (new ed: 33, f. 19.1

  60. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Song, 1987 Spiders from agricultural regions of China (Arachnida: Araneae): 119, f. 80

  61. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Zhang, 1987 [Farm spiders from Hebei Province]: 104, f. 84.1-4

  62. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Hu & Wu, 1989 Spiders from agricultural regions of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China: 118, f. 91.1-3

  63. Theridium tepidariorum (♀)

    Izmailova, 1989 [Fauna of Spiders of South Part of Eastern Siberia]: 96, f. 75

  64. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Chikuni, 1989b Pictorial encyclopedia of spiders in Japan: 30, f. 1

  65. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Feng, 1990 Spiders of China in colour: 112, f. 87.1-4

  66. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Chen & Gao, 1990 The Sichuan farmland spiders in China: 90, f. 113a-b

  67. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Chen & Zhang, 1991 Fauna of Zhejiang: Araneida: 139, f. 131.1-3

  68. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Heimer & Nentwig, 1991 Spinnen Mitteleuropas: Ein Bestimmungsbuch: 280, f. 753

  69. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂)

    Knoflach, 1991 Achaearanea tabulata Levi, eine für Österreich neue Kugelspinne (Arachnida, Aranei: Theridiidae): 61, f. 13, 18-19

  70. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Song, Zhu & Li, 1993 Arachnida: Araneae: 853, f. 2A-B

  71. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Zhao, 1993 Spiders in the cotton fields in China: 203, f. 94a-d

  72. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂)

    Roth, 1994 Spider Genera of North America, with Keys to Families and Genera, and a Guide to Literature, third edition: 183, f. 55

  73. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂)

    Dimitrov, 1994 A record of Achaearanea tabulata from the Balkan Peninsula (Araneae: Theridiidae): 77, f. 2, 4 doi:10.5431/aramit0816

  74. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Roberts, 1995 Collins Field Guide: Spiders of Britain & Northern Europe: 279, f.

  75. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Zhao, 1995 Araneida: 922, f. 433a-d

  76. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Agnarsson, 1996 Íslenskar köngulær: 52, f. 35A-B

  77. Theridium tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Mcheidze, 1997 [Spiders of Georgia: Systematics, Ecology, Zoogeographic Review]: 193, f. 393-393 here

  78. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Song, Chen & Zhu, 1997 Arachnida: Araneae: 1706, f. 4a-b

  79. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Zhu, 1998 Fauna Sinica: Arachnida: Araneae: Theridiidae: 105, f. 63A-E

  80. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Roberts, 1998 Spinnengids: 293, f.

  81. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Song, Zhu & Chen, 1999 The spiders of China: 95, f. 12F, 43E-F, K-L

  82. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Yoshida, 2000b The spider genus Achaearanea (Araneae: Theridiidae) from Japan: 146, f. 28-31 doi:10.2476/asjaa.49.137

  83. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Hu, 2001 Spiders in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of China: 556, f. 374.1-3

  84. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Song, Zhu & Chen, 2001 The Fauna of Hebei, China: Araneae: 95, f. 45A-E

  85. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Namkung, 2002 The spiders of Korea: 82, f. 13.1a-c

  86. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Kim & Cho, 2002 Spider: Natural Enemy & Resources: 299, f. 769-774

  87. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂)

    Yoo & Kim, 2002a Studies on basic pattern and evolution of male palpal organ (Arachnida: Araneae): 26, f. 21

  88. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Paquin & Dupérré, 2003 Guide d'identification des araignées de Québec: 213, f. 2383-2384

  89. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Namkung, 2003 The Spiders of Korea, 2nd: 84, f. 13.1a-c

  90. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♀)

    Guryanova, 2003 Materials to the spider fauna of Podolian wood-and-steppe (Ukraine): 5, f. 2

  91. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Yoshida, 2003a The spider family Theridiidae (Arachnida: Araneae) from Japan: 109, f. 274-277, 542, 579

  92. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂)

    Knoflach, 2004 Diversity in the copulatory behaviour of comb-footed spiders (Araneae, Theridiidae): 218, f. 60g

  93. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂)

    Agnarsson, 2004 Morphological phylogeny of cobweb spiders and their relatives (Araneae, Araneoidea, Theridiidae): 626, f. 10A-F, 11A-F doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2004.00120.x

  94. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Almquist, 2006 Swedish Araneae, part 1 – families Atypidae to Hahniidae (Linyphiidae excluded): 54, f. 81a-i

  95. Parasteatoda tepidariorum (♂♀, Transferred from Achaearanea)

    Saaristo, 2006 Theridiid or cobweb spiders of the granitic Seychelles islands (Araneae, Theridiidae): 70, f. 60-63

  96. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂)

    Agnarsson, 2006b A revision of the New World eximius lineage of Anelosimus (Araneae, Theridiidae) and a phylogenetic analysis using worldwide exemplars: 583, f. 56D doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2006.00213.x

  97. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂)

    Agnarsson, Coddington & Knoflach, 2007 Morphology and evolution of cobweb spider male genitalia (Araneae, Theridiidae): 366, f. 109 doi:10.1636/SH-06-36.1

  98. Parasteatoda tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Yoshida, 2009b Uloboridae, Theridiidae, Ctenidae: 380, f. 232-233

  99. Parasteatoda tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Paquin, Vink & Dupérré, 2010 Spiders of New Zealand: annotated family key & species list: 62, f. 34.11-12

  100. Parasteatoda tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Saaristo, 2010 Araneae: 261, f. 37.102-106

  101. Parasteatoda tepidariorum (♂)

    Wunderlich, 2011 Extant and fossil spiders (Araneae): 236, f. 98

  102. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Le Peru, 2011 The spiders of Europe, a synthesis of data: Volume 1 Atypidae to Theridiidae: 434, f. 654

  103. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Zhu & Zhang, 2011 Spider Fauna of Henan: Arachnida: Araneae: 77, f. 41A-E

  104. Parasteatoda tepidariorum (♂)

    Álvarez-Padilla & Hormiga, 2011a Morphological and phylogenetic atlas of the orb-weaving spider family Tetragnathidae (Araneae: Araneoidea): 853, f. 140E doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2011.00692.x

  105. Achaearanea tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Yin et al., 2012 Fauna Hunan: Araneae in Hunan, China: 273, f. 95a-e, 3-13b-c

  106. Parasteatoda tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Yoshida, 2015 Parasteatoda and a new genus Campanicola (Araneae: Theridiidae) from Taiwan: 27, f. 1-4

  107. Parasteatoda tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Baba & Tanikawa, 2015 The handbook of spiders: 24, 4 f.

  108. Parasteatoda tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Faúndez & Téllez, 2016 New records for Parasteatoda tepidariorum (C: 85, f. 1-5 doi:10.4067/s0718-686x2016000300009

  109. Parasteatoda tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Jin, 2018 Theridiidae, Ctenidae, Liocranidae: 27, f. 4-17.A-G, pl. 6

  110. Parasteatoda tepidariorum (♀)

    Yuan, Zhao & Zhang, 2019 Preliminary study on the spider diversity of the Wanglang National Nature Reserve: 31, f. 26A-C doi:10.3969/j.issn.1005-9628.2019.01.002

  111. Parasteatoda tepidariorum (♀)

    Zhan et al., 2019 Comparative morphology refines the conventional model of spider reproduction: 5, f. 1E-J, 4F-H doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0218486

  112. Steatoda tepidariorum (♂)

    Benavides & Hormiga, 2020 A morphological and combined phylogenetic analysis of pirate spiders (Araneae, Mimetidae): evolutionary relationships, taxonomy, and character evolution: 157, f. 11A doi:10.1071/IS19032

  113. Parasteatoda tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Kim, 2021 Spiders V: 108, f. 46A-I, pl. 22

  114. Parasteatoda tepidariorum (♀)

    Dippenaar-Schoeman et al., 2021z The Theridiidae of South Africa. Part 1 A-P: 53, 2 f. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7515890

  115. Parasteatoda tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Lapointe & Paquin, 2022 La distinction entre Parasteatoda tabulata (Levi 1980) et Parasteatoda tepidariorum (C: 109, f. 3c-d, 4b, 5b, f, j

  116. Parasteatoda tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Zhang, Peng & Zhang, 2022 Spiders of Mt. Xiaowutai: 38, f. 20A-G

  117. Parasteatoda tepidariorum (♀)

    Zehbi & Yousuf, 2023 Household spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) of Kashmir Himalayas with three new records from India: 416, f. 5A-C doi:10.1016/j.japb.2023.06.004

  118. Parasteatoda tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Geci et al., 2024 A note on alien spider species from Kosovo (Arachnida: Araneae): 23, f. 4a-c doi:10.30963/aramit6806

  119. Parasteatoda tepidariorum (♀)

    Lecigne, Moutaouakil & Lips, 2025 Contribution to the knowledge of the spider fauna of Morocco (Arachnida: Araneae) – second note: 147, f. 91P

  120. Parasteatoda tepidariorum (♂♀)

    Sherwood, 2025b Annotated checklist of imported non-native spider (Araneae) taxa recorded in the United Kingdom 1800–2024: 150, f. 19A-H doi:10.15298/arthsel.34.1.10

* Retrieved from the World Spider Catalog.

Distribution Map for Parasteatoda tepidariorum (C. L. Koch, 1841)

Cosmopolitan, including Singapore, Germany.

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