Stenaelurillus natalensi, Haddad & Wesołowska, 2006

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 : 82

Stenaelurillus natalensi s Haddad & Wesolowska, 2006

Fig. 249

Stenaelurillus natalensis: Haddad & Wesolowska 2006: 580 , figs 22–36.

See Haddad & Wesolowska (2006) for description of both sexes. General appearance of male in Fig. 249.

Material examined: 2ơ Airfield, 26 ° 54.865'S: 32 ° 17.896'E, broadleaf woodland, leaf litter, 6.xii.2005 ( NMSA 21877); 1^same locality, under rocks, 12.i.2007 ( NCA 2007/3064); 1^Crocodile Farm, 26 ° 54.426'S: 32 ° 19.185'E, broadleaf woodland, on ground in thick grass, 2.vii.2003 ( NMSA 21878); 1ơ same locality, leaf litter, 5.vii.2003 ( NMSA 21879); 2^1 imm. same locality, on ground near termite galleries, 15.vi.2005 ( NCA 2006/674); 2ơ Main Camp, 26 ° 54.581'S: 32 ° 18.798'E, broadleaf woodland, leaf litter, 26.i.2006 ( NMSA 21880); 2^2 imm. same locality, leaf litter near termite galleries, 26.i.2006, C. Haddad & R. Lyle ( NCA 2006/680); 2ơ 8 imm. Near NRC picnic site, A.tortilis savannah, 26 ° 52.742'S: 32 ° 11.088'E,grassy leaf litter near Odontotermes mound, 23.vi.2005 ( NCA 2006/679); 1^Near Nyamiti Bird Hide, Pongola R. floodplain, Ezikebheni, 26 ° 53.362'S: 32 ° 18.892'E, pitfall traps, 15–25.i.2006, C. Haddad & R. Lyle ( NCA 2008/1876); 2ơ 3^Near Vulture Restaurant, 26 ° 53.376'S: 32 ° 18.703'E, subtropical bush,under logs, 19.vi.2006, C.Haddad & F.Jordaan ( NCA 2006/1275); 2ơ Red Cliffs, 26 ° 51.164'S: 32 ° 12.365'E, subtropical bush, near termite mound, 17.vi.2005 ( NMSA 21881); 1^8 imm. 26 ° 52.464'S: 32 ° 16.050'E, subtropical bush, A. nigrescens woodland, on sand near Odontotermes termite mound, 17.vi.2005 ( NCA 2006/675); 2ơ 3 imm. same locality, in semi-shade, branches near termite galleries, 18.vi.2005 ( NCA 2006/676); 1ơ 1 imm. 26 ° 52.475'S: 32 ° 15.972'E, subtropical bush, A. nigrescens woodland, in semi-shade, near Odontotermes termite mound, 18.vi.2005 ( NCA 2006/677); 5 imm. 5ơ 26 ° 52.398'S: 32 ° 16.082'E, subtropical bush, A. nigrescens woodland, on Odontotermes termite mound, 18.vi.2005 ( NCA 2006/678); 1ơ 26 ° 52.371'S: 32 ° 13.363'E, subtropical bush, Mahemane thicket, Odontotermes termite mound and nearby leaf litter, 15.vi.2005 ( MRAC 218447); 2ơ 2^same data ( MRAC 218448); 1ơ 7 imm. 26 ° 51.908'S: 32 ° 14.458'E, Subtropical bush, Mahemane thicket, leaf litter near Odontotermes mound, 15.vi.2005 ( NCA 2006/673).

Distribution: Known only from two sites in Maputaland, South Africa.

Habitat and biology: The natural history of this species was studied in detail by Haddad and Wesolowska (2006), and can be summarised as follows. This species was very common in the immediate vicinity of Odontotermes badius termite mounds and foraging galleries in leaf litter near mounds, although they very rarely entered the chimneys. Individuals were active 1–2 hours after sunrise until an hour before sunset, predominantly in savannah and thicket habitats with sandy soils and receiving direct sunlight for most of the day. Depending on the season, between 19–24 % of the specimens observed had O. badius prey in their chelicerae ( Fig. 249). No other prey was taken in the field. Termites were captured while foraging in leaf litter, while repairing their galleries and/ or the mound structure, or where galleries were damaged and termites were exposed to the outside environment. Prey capture involved the observation and identification of prey from as much as 15 cm away, followed by a series of short runs and jumps before prey was attacked. Several bites were inflicted by immatures, who dragged their prey away once paralysed.Adults often only inflicted a single bite and immediately dragged their prey away.