About Theridion pictum (Walckenaer, 1802)
Theridion pictum is a species of cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, and it is the type species of the genus Theridion. It has a Holarctic distribution across North America, Europe, North Africa, the Caucasus, Russia (from Europe to the Far East), Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, China, and Japan, and has been introduced to South Africa. In South Africa, it is recorded from Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and Limpopo. Individual occurrences are specifically known from the United States, Canada, Europe, and Turkey. This species builds three-dimensional webs. It can place its webs on a variety of vegetation including bushes, tall grasses, and flowers, as well as on human-made objects such as posts and fences. It constructs its webs in dark places usually close to the substrate, and is frequently found under stones. It inhabits low-lying damp areas, and has been recorded among moss and plant litter in wetlands. It has also been sampled from the Savanna biome at altitudes ranging from 219 to 1341 m, and from avocado and macadamia orchards. Males and females of this species reach maturity between early and mid-summer, and mature females may survive into November.
