Phlegra arborea, Wesolowska & Haddad, 2009

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 : 70-71

Phlegra arborea sp. n.

Figs 136–141, 223

Etymology: The specific name refers to the spider’s habitat; all of the specimens were collected on bark of A. xanthophloea .

Diagnosis: The male resembles Ph. atra Wesolowska & Tomasiewicz, 2008 from Ethiopia in shape, body size and the pedipalp structure, but has a narrower tegulum with a longer posterior lobe (compare Fig. 137 herein with fig. 150 in Wesolowska & Tomasiewicz 2008). Female unknown.

Description:

Male.

Measurements: Carapace length 2.4–2.5, width 1.6–1.7, height 0.8–1.0.Abdomen length 2.1–2.2, width 1.2–1.3. Eye field length 0.8, anterior width 1.1–1.2, posterior width 1.2–1.3.

General appearance in Figs 136, 223; slender, blackish, hairy spider. Carapace slightly pear shaped, with short eye field; ocular area black, thoracic part dark brown. Mouthparts and sternum dark.Abdomen slender, almost black. Legs dark brown. Whole body clothed in short dense blackish hairs. Pedipalps dark brown; tegulum long and slender, with long triangular posterior lobe, embolus straight ( Fig. 137); tibial apophyses as in Figs 138–140; embolus compound ( Fig. 141).

Holotype: ơ South-western shore of Banzi Pan, 26 ° 53.118'S: 32 ° 16.927'E, A. xanthophloea bark, 28.vi.2003 ( NCA 2009 /670).

Paratypes: 1ơ Crocodile Farm, Pongola R. floodplain, 26 ° 54.426'S: 32 ° 19.185'E, A. xanthophloea bark, 6.ii.2005 (NCA 2008/619); 1ơ Eastern shore of Shokwe Pan, 26 ° 52.516'S: 32 ° 12.407'E, A. xanthophloea bark, 24.i.2006 (NCA 2008/1865).

Habitat and biology: The specimens were found under A. xanthophloea bark.