Family LINYPHIIDAE Blackwall, 1859

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• Linyphiidae Blackwall, 1859.

Introduction

The Linyphiidae belong in the Araneoidea and is the second most diverse spider family, its high diversity in Europe accounting largely for this position. These spiders build delicate webs in vegetation or hunt freely in the litter. Males often show strong dimorphisms in the shape of the carapace and chelicerae. A number of non-Australian linyphiid species have established themselves in Australia. Perhaps most conspicuous among these is Ostearius melanopygus which alone is apparently responsible for many hectare of fields being covered with the web of spiderlings attempting to balloon in autumn. In Australia, the family is believed to be very diverse with many new species awaiting attention.

Diagnosis

As part of the Araneoidea, the linyphiids are unusual in the presence of a stridulatory lyra laterally on the chelicerae, a rebordered labium and no enlarged setae are evident around the claws or on the ventral surface of tarsi IV; male linyphiids have a strong hooked basal paracymbium.

History of changes