Crustulina sticta
This record describes Crustulina sticta (species). Recorded family: Theridiidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
The color is variable, even in other photos on the Jorgen Lissner site. Also, Washington specimens (for example) average considerably darker than the eastern-states material in these 3 BugGuide photos. Levi in his taxonomic revision says the color can range from white to dark brown and can be with or without a Steatoda-like pattern. ~ Rod Crawford
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Theridiidae (Cobweb Spiders)
- Genus
- Crustulina
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
The species is Holarctic and in N.America from Labrador to Alaska south to southernmost TX and CA, but seems to be absent from the SE states. ~ Rod Crawford
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Author of the name: O. P. Cambridge. Year first published: 1861. Crustulina comes from Latin crustulum (a little crusty cake) plus a diminutive suffix -ina, so: a VERY little crusty cake. sticta is from Greek stiktos, punctured.
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Crustulina sticta. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
As of 2023, 51,673 spider species in 136 families have been recorded, though an estimated 150,000 species exist. Spiders rank 7th in total species diversity among all organism orders. Only 0.5% of spider species pose any risk to human health.
Ecological role of the group
Spider venom contains complex peptides with diverse pharmacological activities, making them valuable for drug development research. Spiders produce up to 7 types of silk from specialized glands. Spider silk genes have been inserted into mammals and plants for biotech applications.
Economic and practical significance of the group
The global spider community kills an estimated 400-800 million tons of prey annually (2017 study). Spiders provide billions of dollars in natural pest control for agriculture. Spider silk is 5× stronger than steel of the same diameter, driving a biomaterials research industry.
Recorded sources for this group: World Spider Catalog, PNAS, Nature, ScienceDirect. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Crustulina sticta (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Lynette Elliott; Additional contributions by pfeiffer
Frequently Asked Questions About Crustulina sticta
What is Crustulina sticta?
Crustulina sticta is a species in the family Theridiidae, within the order Araneae.
How do you identify Crustulina sticta?
The color is variable, even in other photos on the Jorgen Lissner site. Also, Washington specimens (for example) average considerably darker than the eastern-states material in these 3 BugGuide photos. Levi in his taxonomic revision says the color can range from white to dark brown and can be with or without a Steatoda-like pattern. ~ Rod Crawford
Where is Crustulina sticta found?
Range: The species is Holarctic and in N.America from Labrador to Alaska south to southernmost TX and CA, but seems to be absent from the SE states. ~ Rod Crawford