Evarcha ignea Wesolowska & Cumming, 2008

Wesolowska, Wanda & Haddad, Charles R., 2009, Jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) of the Ndumo Game Reserve, Maputaland, South Africa, African Invertebrates 50 (1), pp. 13-103 : 30-32

Evarcha ignea Wesolowska & Cumming, 2008

Figs 34–37, 212

Evarcha ignea: Wesolowska & Cumming 2008: 175 , figs 22, 23.

Redescription:

Male.

Measurements: Carapace length 1.9–2.3, width 1.5–1.8, height 0.8–1.0.Abdomen length 1.6–2.2, width 1.1–1.4. Eye field length 0.9–1.0, anterior width 1.4–1.5, posterior width 1.5–1.6.

General appearance as in Fig. 34. Carapace dark brown, with thin black line along margins, vicinity of eyes black; brown setae form median streak on thorax and band along edge of flat part of thorax; long brown bristles near eyes, white hairs scattered on thoracic plain, forming large patch on eye field posteriorly; anterior eyes surrounded by orange scales; clypeus high, clothed in bright reddish scarlet scale-like hairs ( Fig. 212), reaching to sides of carapace. Chelicerae unidentate; labium and endites brown, sternum yellow tinged with grey. Abdomen russet brown with yellowish pattern ( Fig. 34), light posterior chevrons joined to large patch in some specimens; in one specimen delicate small orange scutum anteriorly on dorsum; sparse long dark setae cover abdomen, denser and longer at anterior edge; venter grey, in one specimen yellow with three streaks composed of dark dots; spinnerets yellowish grey. Legs brown with lighter rings on patellae and tibiae basally, and yellowish metatarsi and tarsi; leg hairs and spines brown. Pedipalps brown; tibial apophysis straight and wide, with small notch in tip ( Figs 36, 37); tegulum with posterior lobe, embolus nestling to tegulum ( Fig. 35).

Female. Unknown.

Material examined:1ơ Main Camp, 26 ° 54.581'S: 32 ° 18.798'E, broadleaf woodland, grassy litter, 13.vi.2005 (NCA 2008/2032); 2ơ Southern boundary fence, 26 ° 55.578'S: 32 ° 19.081'E, deep sand forest, Commiophora harveyi bark, 13.vi.2005 (NCA 2008/2033); 1ơ 26 ° 52.464'S: 32 ° 16.050'E, subtropical bush, A. nigrescens woodland, leaf litter, 8.xii.2000 (NMSA 21840).

Distribution: Species described from Zimbabwe, recorded for the first time from South Africa.

Habitat and biology: This species was collected from the bases of grasses and from leaf litter in BW and ST. Two males were captured beneath bark in SF.