Which spider family is known for lacking venom glands?

Uloboridae is the spider family known for lacking venom glands. These spiders are often called cribellate orb weavers or hackled orb weavers, and they subdue prey without injecting venom.

Instead, an uloborid catches prey in specialized fuzzy cribellate silk, wraps it tightly, and covers it with digestive enzymes. The liquefied tissues can then be consumed. This unusual feeding method is one of the clearest differences between Uloboridae and most other spiders, many of which use venom delivered through their chelicerae.

The absence of venom glands is considered a secondarily evolved trait, meaning their ancestors likely possessed the structures but the lineage later lost them. Uloborids are not completely defenseless: their silk and wrapping behavior can restrain insects effectively. Most members have eight eyes, although the genus Miagrammopes includes species with only four. Some uloborids also form communal webs containing dozens or even hundreds of individuals.