• Scientists have recently discovered four new spider species belonging to the Pholcus genus in Korean forests.
• The new spider species were collected by hand from mountainous mixed forests in South Korea during a survey of spider fauna led by scientists from the Diversity Conservation Research Department.
• The Phungiformes group of spiders in South Korea shows a high degree of regional endemism, with diversification likely driven by geographic isolation and physical barriers limiting movement between spider populations.

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Finding one new spider species is exciting, but scientists have recently discovered no fewer than four! They all belong to the Pholcus genus and like to live in dark and sheltered areas in Korean forests. Here's the story of how they were discovered, with some theories about how they became isolated and evolved into so many new species.

All About Pholcidae Spiders

The Pholcidae spiders are one of the most diverse and species-rich families of spiders in the Araneae order. In all, there are 2,060 species over 97 genera. The family includes some well-known spiders such as the cellar spider, the daddy long-legs spider, and the carpenter spider. Their long, thin legs and comparatively small bodies characterize them. They typically have two groups of three eyes each, though some species possess an additional pair of small eyes.

This family of spiders is found on every continent in the world except Antarctica, where they create messy, irregularly shaped webs. They create their webs in dark and damp recesses, such as caves or under rocks, and then feed on the insects that they catch. Pholcidae spiders produce venom to subdue their prey. However, because their fangs are not strong enough to pierce human skin, they do not present a threat to us. They are happy to live around humans, and you may spot them in your attics and cellars, which explains the name 'cellar spider'.

The Pholcus Group of Spiders

The most diverse group of the Pholcidae spiders is the Pholcus, which contains 434 species belonging to 21 species groups. The species group featured in this story is the Pholcus phungiformes species group. Most of these spiders are found in northern and northeastern China, the Korean Peninsula, and the Russian Far East. They like to live in dusky, humid spaces, so you will find them in rock walls, road drains, and cave entrances in mountainous and coastal mixed forests.