Scaffold web spiders Temporal range: Palaeogene–present PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Nesticus sp., male
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Nesticidae Simon, 1894
Diversity
16 genera, 288 species

Scaffold web spiders or cave cobweb spiders (Nesticidae) are a family of araneomorph spiders closely allied with tangle-web spiders (Theridiidae). Like the Theridiidae, these spiders have a comb of serrated bristles on the hind tarsi that are used to pull silk bands from the spinnerets. Nesticidae contains 16 genera and about 300 species,^[1] many of which are associated with caves or overhangs.^[2] The genus Nesticus is the type for the family and is found throughout the world. The related Eidmannella has speciated considerably in Texas caves and includes some extremely localized species that are considered threatened. One species, Eidmannella pallida, is found in caves and under overhangs, but also in agricultural fields and other habitats away from such restricted areas. The genus Carpathonesticus is found in central Eurasia.

Genera

As of August 2023^[update], the World Spider Catalog accepts the following genera:^[1]

The following extinct genera have been placed in the Nesticidae:^[3]

• †Balticonesticus Wunderlich, 1986 – Palaeogene, Baltic amber
• †Eopopino Petrunkevitch, 1942 – Palaeogene, Baltic and Bitterfeld amber
• †Heteronesticus Wunderlich, 1986 – Palaeogene, Baltic amber
• †Hispanonesticus Wunderlich, 1986 – Neogene, Dominican amber