Comb-footed spiders are so called because nearly all species have a comb of bristles on the tarsus (final segment) of leg IV. The tarsal comb is used for drawing out silk. They are sometimes also called tangle-web spiders or cobweb spiders because some species have messy space webs of sticky silk, but the family as a whole has many web architectures. Important or common Australian species include the Common House Spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum and the Red-back Spider Latrodectus hasselti.
Theridiids are generally small spiders, mostly with a large abdomen and a small cephalothorax and slender legs. The males are usually smaller than the females. In many species the abdomen is brightly coloured. The spiders generally hang upside down in the webs. When prey touches the like the strands break and pull the prey towards the centre of the web.
Subfamilies include Argyrodinae (Argyrodes, Ariamnes, Rhomphaea etc) Hadrotarsinae (Dipoena, Emertonella, Euryopis etc some of which are ant predators living on or near the ground), Latrodectinae (Crustulina, Latrodectus, Steatoda etc), Pholcommatinae Simon, 1894 (Phoroncidia etc,) Sphintharinae (Episinus, Moneta, Thwaitesia etc) and Theridiinae (Achaearanea, Chrysso, Nesticodes, Theridion etc). A number of other genera have not found a subfamily, including Anelosimus. Some Romphaea and Argyrodes are kleptoparasites in the webs of orb weavers, stealing their food and sometimes killing and eating the spiders, their young and their eggs. Some subfamilies of Australian Theridiidae have been revised, notably the Hadrotarsinae by Helen Smith at the Australian Museum. Hajime Yoshida has revised many Japanese subfamilies.
Anelosimus sp. cf crassipes Fat-thighed Anelosimus
This spider looks like Anelosimus crassipes from Korea and Japan and Southeast Asia except for the suggested size (ours is a little smaller). They have been observed laying in July, some of these specimens with egg sacs they were carrying, have slimmed down. The others (larger, fatter)... 
Anelosimus spp. (Purple, Yellow, Fat-thighs, et al)
A number of medium-sized Theridiids, usually between 2-4mm, sometimes larger, may belong to the genus Anelosimus, known elsewhere but not yet...
Argyrodinae > Argyrodes antipodianus O.P.-Cambridge. 1880 Dewdrop Spider
These small spiders (females to 3mm, males to 2.5mm) live on the edges of webs of large orb-weavers, notably Nephila species, but also others. The abdomen reflects silvery light like a dewdrop. They...
Argyrodinae > Argyrodes miniaceus (Doleschall, 1857)
The body length of both the female and the male of this pretty spider is around 3.5 mm. Usually found on the edge of the web of a large orb-weaver, often Nephila plumipes, scavenging small insects that land on the web. Widespread through south-east Asia and Australia. The abdomen is peaked...
Argyrodinae > Argyrodes rainbowi (Roewer, 1942) Rainbow's Argyrodes
A small Theridid with silvery scales on the flanks of the abdomen. Male and female with a body length about 3mm. The male has a smaller abdomen. Both have silvery scales on the side of the abdomen. named after the arachnologist Rainbow. These spiders inhabit webs of other spiders, usually large orb...
Argyrodinae > Argyrodes sp A Rhomphaea-like Argyrodes
A small Argyrodes species given to suspending itself in a stretched lengthways manner resembling a tiny, thin twig, or leaf. This species is...
Argyrodinae > Argyrodes sp Square-ended Argyrodes
A long, slender but blocky Argyrodes with a square-ended abdomen. Female body length 4-6mm.
Argyrodinae > Argyrodes spp. cf fissifrons ex conopistha
A collection of slender Argyrodes, possibly A. fissifrons or a closely related species with some similarities to A. gracilisrecorded as Conopistha in Mascord. There are likely to be many undescribed spiders of this type. This species sometimes has a small tangled web, or...
Argyrodinae > Ariamnes colubrinus (Keyserling, 1890) Whip Spider
A quite large spider with a long, cylindrical abdomen. The female grows to 22 mm, the male 13 mm, both very slender, only up to 1mm wide. May be seen...
Argyrodinae > Rhomphaea or Conopistha species
Probably Rhomphaea (a Theridiid that used to be Argyrodes). These Theridiids scavenge from the webs of others spiders. This one is a relatively large spider, about 12mm in body length, and was found in the web of the orb weaver Cyrtophora exanthematica. The genus Rhomphaea was...
Argyrodinae > Romphaea sp.
This species is small (the body length of the male about 3mm) slender, pale to transparent, with a long abdomen peaked with a blunt, bent witch's hat rear end. The peak underneath to the spinnerets is also pronounced. Legs are extremely long and slender as are the pedipalps. The cephalothorax is...
Hadrotarsinae > 'Argyrodes' binotatus Rainbow, 1915
This is actually one of the few described species of Hadrotarsines, currently incorrectly placed in Argyrodes as 'Argyrodes binotatus'. It will move to a new genus.
Hadrotarsinae > Common Hadrotarsine
This is one of the more common, but still undescribed, Theridiids in the subfamily Hadrotarsinae. It is found sometimes on fence palings in small messy webs. Its prey includes ants. Thanks to Helen Smith for help with ID. Female body length about 1-2mm, males about 1mm.
Hadrotarsinae > Emertonella sp Bark-dwelling Emertonella
A common bark dwelling Euryopis/Emertonella body length to about 6mm females, 5mm males, recognisable by the silver and copper design in a V shape on...
Hadrotarsinae > 'Euryopis' sp. cf elegans
These spiders, called here 'Euryopis' sp. are a group of similar species some of which have not been described. It is difficult to tell them...
Hadrotarsinae > Euryopis superba (Rainbow, 1896) Bark-dwelling Euryopis
A small to medium bark dweller, females to 6mm males to 3mm. The spider described by Rainbow as this species, from a female, is widespread through NSW and Victoria, but has no described male. A very similar spider in SE Queensland may be a sister species, or the same species with slight...
Hadrotarsinae > Miniturreted Black Hadrotarsine
This jet black Hadrotarsine, body length about 1.8mm, has a small turreted head and slender pointy pedipalps.
Hadrotarsinae > Phycosoma sp. (cf Dipoena)
Male 2mm, female 3.5mm. A distinctive pattern of black and white on the upper surface of the abdomen. Cephalothorax dark brown to black, legs brown with clear sections, somewhat black and clear striped in the sub-adult male. The egg chamber is a roughly conical structure, about 3.5mm tall, with...
Hadrotarsinae > Phycosoma sp. (ex Dipoena)
Mascord in his 1980 field guide shows a male with a body length about 2mm as Dipoena sp. He writes that these spiders prey almost exclusively...
Hadrotarsinae > Phycosoma sp. (ex Dipoena)
Cephalothorax clearish, indented rough U shape on carapace, some forward pointing hairs, large strongly sclerotised palps, black and white or grey and white abdomen. Body length about 1-2mm, mostly <2mm. Some darker banding on the femurs. Very compact, nearly half as high as long.
Hadrotarsinae > Phycosoma sp. cf Dipoena
These specimens may be the same as others displayed in this section, or quite possibly a separate species. These specimens grouped here are...
Hadrotarsinae > Small, undescribed Hadrotarsine
This small Hadrotarsine is one of many genera awaiting description.
Hadrotarsine > Flattish Hadrotarsine with central bump
This species, or group of species, has a body length of up to 3mm in females, up to 2mm in males, has a generally flattish abdomen with a central bump and a turreted cephalothorax. Hickman's Atkinsonia petricola is a good match but is only found further south.
Hadrotarsine > cf Trigonobothrys Hickman
This is an undescribed Australian genus and species related to what Hickman called Trigonobothrys. Small, female body length about 1.8mm.
Lactrodectinae > Latrodectus hasselti Thorell, 1870 Redback Spider
Mature female Redbacks have a black pea shaped body to about 10mm with a prominent red stripe on the abdomen and slender legs. The male is smaller,...
Lactrodectinae > Steatoda grossa (C. L. Koch, 1838) Cupboard Spider
The Cupboard Spider, or Brown House Spider is a black to purple brown spider with a pale speckled band on the anterior edge of the abdomen and three...
Pholcommatinae > Phoroncidia rotunda (Keyserling, 1890) Round Phoroncidia
Phoroncidia rotunda (Keyserling, 1890) was described from specimens in Queensland, Lord Howe Is. and Samoa. The male is a tiny spider about 1mm body length when sexually mature. The female to 2mm.
Pholcommatinae > Phoroncidia sextuberculata (Keyserling, 1890) Six-knobbed Phoroncidia
This Phoroncidia, body length up to about 3mm, height 4mm, is widespread in coastal South East Queensland. Its range is coastal Australia from Cape York in Queensland to Victoria and it has been observed in Perth. The abdomen ranges from pinks to whites to orange, brown and black and has a...
Pholcommatinae > Phoroncidia sp white above, lateral bumps, facing
A small spider, possibly juvenile, body length 1mm. Collected mid June 2009 on the northern side of the junction of Fish and Enoggera Creeks, Walton Bridge Reserve, The Gap. No obvious comb on leg IV but some Theridiids do not have a comb. Also it is difficult to see. It has a small bump on the...
Pholcommatinae > Phoroncidia sp. Flattened Phoroncidia with small central peak
Body length about 2mm. Large, solid, glazed and bumpy abdomen, tiny cephalothorax. The abdomen is rather flattish with small central peak.
Pholcommatinae > Phoroncidia sp. Phoroncidia silver-sided 'fatback'
Phoroncidia species all tend to have a relatively small cephalothorax compared to the large and more or less peaked, sclerotized (hardened) abdomen with a glazed, smooth or pitted exterior. They are characterised by abdominal humps and and eye region projecting beyond clypeus (forming a...
Sphintharinae > Episinus spp.
Episinus is a rich spider genus species, occurring worlwide, with many species. Episinus bicornis (Thorell, 1881) is known from Queensland. This may be what we call the 'Common' Episinus that we see frequently. The 2004 Brisbane Terrestrial Invertebrate Review (QM, & BCC) recorded...
Sphintharinae > Moneta australis (Keyserling, 1890)
Moneta australis is a common spider seldom observed because it is restricted to rainforest and margins, is small, and has a minimal web, just a few strands of silk under leaves. It feeds on small insects. Body length of the female according to Mascord 1980 is 3.4mm, the male 2.9mm. In gardens in...
Sphintharinae > Moneta species Tiny Mount Glorious Moneta
A very small Moneta, body length less than 3mm.
Sphintharinae > Moneta spp. Pretty Moneta, Pink-spotted Moneta
These small Moneta spp. are common in rainforest in South East Queensland and may all be one species with colour variations. They are found on...
Sphintharinae > Moneta variabilis Rainbow 1920 Variable Moneta
A medium sized spider, quite large for a Moneta species, Body length of females up to 5mm. Its habit is to lie flat against any surface. The overall shape and colour gives the impression of a terrestrial squid, having a raised abdomen after a flattened cephalothorax, the underneath of the...
Sphintharinae > Thwaitesia O. P.-Cambridge, 1881 T. argentiopunctata (Rainbow, 1916), T. nigronodosa (Rainbow, 1912) and perhaps others
Australian Thwaitesiaare apparently not commonly observed, as there are very few photographs of this genus on the web, in field guides or in spider picture books. Were it more common there would surely be many spectacular photos of these very pretty spiders, sparkling golden and silver, with...
Spintharinae > Undescribed Bright Green Spider with garnet-coloured, highly complex palps
This not uncommon bright green spider may be in the Theridiid subfamily Theridiinae as it is sometimes called Theridion but it is unlikely to have...
Theradiinae > Achaearanea meraukensis Chrysanthus 1963
Achaearanea meraukensis is a species described by Chrysanthus from a specimen collected in New Guinea in 1960s. The Queensland Museum has also recorded it from Queensland. Females up to 3mm body length. males smaller, around 2mm. Merauke is a town in New Guinea (the Indonesian side of the...
Theridiinae > Achaearanea and Theridion spp.
The genera Theridion and Achaearanea have historically been something of a catch-all for small Theridiid spiders. They may be found to belong to different genera and even if the genus is actually identified, they are often impossible to get to species level because they are so small, many are undescribed and convincing identification would require close inspection of both the mature male and mature female genitals with a microscope.
There...
Theridiinae > Chrysso pulcherrima (Mello-Leitão, 1917) Beautiful Little Chrysso
This spider is found in green vegetation in rainforest and eucalypt forests in Australia. It has a pantropical distribution, being found in most...
Theridiinae > Cryptachaea veruculata (Urquhart, 1885) Diamond Comb-footed Spider
Cryptachaea veruculata is a small spider (body length female to 4mm, male less than 2mm) in small tangled messy webs on plants or built structures. The egg sacs are pinky mauve. Like other Theridiids it is related to the potentially lethal redback spider, Latrodectus hasseltii, but...
Theridiinae > Nesticodes rufipes (Lucas, 1846) Red House Spider
Females to 7mm males to about 5mm. Dark brown, slightly mottled, globular abdomen and the red-brown colour of the legs and cephalothorax. It builds a small, tangled web in dark corners inside houses or under rims of garden pots and similar structures. Said to be capable of causing mild to severe...
Theridiinae > Parasteatoda decorata (L. Koch, 1867) Decorated Cobweb Spider
This small-medium spider has long thin legs and a rather variably coloured abdomen. The female builds a minimal, messy tent shaped web of sticky silk, sometimes in the exterior corners of built structures, usually with a retreat in a dead leaf. Body length of female to 4mm, male to 3mm. It was...
Theridiinae > Parasteatoda mundula (L. Koch, 1872) Comb Footed Platform Spider
Comb-footed Platform Spiders are common in bushland and gardens in Queensland and NSW. Body and legs mostly dark reddish brown especially underneath, to paler greys with white marks bordering darker areas. Abdomen large in relation to the cephalothorax and pea-shaped, sometimes looking squashed and...
Theridiinae > Parasteatoda sp cf tepidariorum
A small to medium spider of the old Achaearanea type now most of which have moved to other genera in revisions. Not greatly unlike...
Theridiinae > Parasteatoda tepidariorum (C. L. Koch, 1841) Common House Spider
A common spider that builds a tangled web in secluded locations. Dull brown, vaguely spotted appearance. Male and female often share the same web,...
Theridiinae > Steatoda sp Red Male
This is a male Steatoda sp, a genus in the Theridiidae referred to as "sister of the Redback". Not a great pic, unfortunately.
Theridiinae > Theridiid sp.
This small Theridiid, body length of males about 2.2mm, was collected on Mt Glorious Western Walk. It is in the subfamily Theridiinae, probably not described.
Theridiinae > Theridiid sp.
A tiny Theridiid female adult body length about 1mm, probably in the Theridiinae. The visible parts of the epigynum are not greatly unlike those of...
Theridiinae > Theridion cf grallator Happy-face
This small green Theridiid found at Mount Glorious, during a sample under permit, is possibly a Theridion. This assignment to possible genus...
Theridiinae > Theridion pyramidale L. Koch, 1867 Pyramidal Theridion
This species builds a small tangled web among shrubs in eucalypt and dry rainforests - the web is usually not connected with the ground. It is very common in Brisbane gardens. The male, rarely seen, has a relatively longer cephalothorax and smaller abdomen but shares the markings.