The Cobweb Spider Genus Steatoda (Araneae, Theridiidae) of Israel and Sinai

Theridiid spiders of the genus Steatoda present in Israel and Sinai have been revised. All type material previously described from the Middle East, along with species from adjacent regions have been re-examined. Comments are given on species newly placed in Steatoda and the following new synonyms are defined: Steatoda signata O.P.-Cambridge, 1876 =Steatoda erigoniformis (O.P.Cambridge, 1872); Lithyphantes ochraceus Simon, 1908, along with Teutana argentea Caporiacco, 1933 =Steatoda ephippiata (Thorell, 1875); Lithyphantes gerhardti Wiehle, 1934 =Steatoda maura (Simon, 1909). The presence of six species formerly reported from this region has been confirmed, and the occurrence of another three species previously unknown from Israel and Sinai, has been proved. All are newly described. The male of S. latifasciata and the female of S. dahli are described for the first time, and a description of S. xerophila sp. n. is given. Systematic, ecologic and available zoogeographic information on taxa treated are discussed. Key and illustrations of diagnostic characters of each species are provided.