A checklist of the spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) of the Polokwane Nature Reserve, Limpopo Province, South Africa

As part of the South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA), spiders were collected from all the field layers in the Polokwane Nature Reserve (Limpopo Province, South Africa) over a period of a year (2005–2006) using four collecting methods. Six habitat types were sampled: Acacia tortillis open savanna; A. rehmanniana woodland, false grassland, riverine and sweet thorn thicket, granite outcrop; and Aloe marlothii thicket. A total of 13 821 spiders were collected (using sweep netting, tree beating, active searching and pitfall trapping) represented by 39 families, 156 determined genera and 275 species. The most diverse families are the Thomisidae (42 spp.), Araneidae (39 spp.) and Salticidae (29 spp.). A total of 84 spp. (30.5%) were web builders and 191 spp. (69.5%) wanderers. In the Polokwane Nature Reserve, 13.75% of South African species are presently protected

Cretaceous fossils from the Orapa Diamond Mine

Main articleThe Orapa kimberlite pipe, situated in north-central Botswana, is well-known for its rich reserves of diamonds. It is indeed one of the largest and richest diamond mines in the world. The kimberlite magma transporting the diamonds from the upper mantle erupted through a sequence ofKaroo-aged rocks before the deposition ofthe Kalahari Sands. This eruption has been radiometrically dated at early Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Coniacian). When volcanism ceased, a succession of epiclastic crater lake sediments was deposited above the kimberlite plug. Analysis of these sediments, which mostly comprise the results of mudflows and debris flows and fmer sediments during quiescenttimes, suggests that most of the sediments within the crater were deposited rapidly as mass flows, and were therefore mobilised soon after the volcanic eruption. Buried within the fine-grained sediments is a unique assemblage of fossils including flowering plants and many whole-bodied insects. The fossils are commonly exquisitely preserved in extremely fine-grained mudstone. Interpretation of the sedimentary facies and fossils is that the mid-Cretaceous climate of central Botswana was temperate, seasonal and wet, and the area surrounding the crater was forested. The fossils represent the recovery of the biota of the area after the violent eruptions of Orapa and other nearby kimberlite fissures and pipes. The fossils have contributed considerably to our understanding of mid-Cretaceous insects and flowering plants and suggest intimate relationships between the two at an early stage in the radiation of flowering plants. It seems that southern Gondwana (including southern Africa) was a centre of diversification for both insects and angiosperms in the mid-Cretaceous.Friends of the Museum, Gaborone; Debswana (Orapa); University of the Witwatersrand; South African Foundation for Research Developmen

Association of spiders and lichen on Robben Island, South Africa

The present study is a first record of spider occurrence on Robben Island, South Africa. Some habitats were rich in lichens. As we know, lichens enhance wildlife habitat in less direct ways. The objective of the study was to examine the potential importance of lichens in enriching spider diversity and abundance. A total of 260 spiders (170 from lichens and 90 from bush) were collected following the visual search method over one year. Seasonal trends in overall species richness and abundance indicated that the relative density of spiders was greater in lichens than in bushes. The result suggests that habitat structure, such as branch size and epiphytic lichen abundance, can be an explanation for the greater number of spiders in lichen-rich patches of the island.AM is thankful to the ADU, University of Cape Town for all the support and financial help during the course of study

Assessing local scale impacts of Opuntia stricta (Cactaceae) invasion on beetle and spider diversity in Kruger National Park, South Africa

There is a paucity of studies examining direct impacts of introduced alien species on biodiversity, a key need for motivating for alien species control in conservation areas. The introduced prickly pear (Opuntia stricta) has invaded some 35 000 ha of Kruger National Park. We investigated the effect of O. stricta on beetle and spider species assemblages in the Skukuza region of Kruger National Park. We used unbaited pitfall traps over a 12-month period in four treatments of varying O. stricta density. Species richness, species density and abundance of beetles and spiders were compared. A total of 72 beetle and 128 spider species were collected. Species richness and species density for beetles and spiders did not differ significantly across the four treatments. Assemblages for spiders did not differ across treatments but beetle assemblages were significantly different from uninvaded control sites. This study suggests that the current density of O. stricta does not significantly affect spider species richness, density or assemblages but that beetle assemblages are significantly affected.The DST-NRF Centre for Invasion Biology and the University of Pretoria.http://www.bioone.org/loi/afzoab201

The evolution of prey‐wrapping behaviour in spiders

We traced the evolution of silk use by spiders in attacks on prey by combining previous publications with new observations of 31 species in 16 families. Two new prey‐wrapping techniques are described. One, in which the spider holds a tense line (often covered with viscid silk) with both legs IV and applies it to the prey with a simultaneous movement of both legs, may be a synapomorphy linking Theridiidae, Nesticidae, and Synotaxidae. The other, in which the spider stands over the prey and turns in place, is apparently very ancient; it occurs in Theraphosidae, Tengellidae, and Agelenidae. The use of legs IV to wrap prey is described for the first time in Filistatidae and Scytodidae. Using a recent phylogeny of spiders, we propose that prey wrapping with legs IV has evolved convergently at least four times. We propose that prey wrapping originally evolved from egg‐sac construction behaviour.Instituto Smithsoniano de Investigaciones Tropicales (STRI)Universidad de Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Básicas::Facultad de Ciencias::Escuela de Biologí

Heriaeus copricola Niekerk & Dippenaar-Schoeman 2013, sp. n.

Heriaeus copricola sp. n. <p>Figs 4, 22–25, 59</p> <p> Etymology: From Latin <i>copros</i> (dung) and <i>colere</i> (to dwell in). The species name was suggested by Dr R.F. Lawrence (<i>in litt</i>.), who marked the type specimens as being a new species but did not publish its description.</p> <p> Diagnosis: The species is recognized by the combination of long, slender, blunt abdominal setae and the epigyne having a shallow hood over a small round opening (Fig. 24), with the internal organs visible as two light brown kidney-shaped structures below the hood (Fig. 24). The embolus of the male palp is short, winding less than once around tegulum, with the tip slender and straight; VTA broad (Fig. 23); RTA with short distal tooth when viewed laterally (Fig. 22). The male palp resembles that of <i>H. zanii</i> sp. n. (Fig. 53) but differs in the shape of the RTA, having a single tooth and the uniquely shaped abdominal setae (Fig. 4).</p> <p>Description:</p> <p> <i>Female</i> (allotype).</p> <p> <i>Size</i>: TL 4.88, CL 2.31, CW 2.04. <i>Colour</i>: Carapace with two longitudinal brown bands extending to PEs; setae brown; clypeus <i>w</i> ith brown marks; sternum white along edge; chelicerae yellow-brown; eye region white. Abdomen beige, mottled with white, with faint transverse lines posteriorly as well as a number of dark brown markings; venter white with fine hairs, with some brown spots laterally. Legs beige with brown spot on proximal end of tibiae and distal ends of metatarsi III and IV; some white mottling on coxae. <i>Carapace</i>: <i>Eye measurements</i>: AME–AME 0.14, ALE–AME 0.30, PME–PME 0.22, PLE–PME 0.31, AME–PME 0.24, MOQL AME–PME 0.31, MOQAW AME– AME 0.36, MOQPW PME–PME 0.28. <i>Leg measurements</i>: leg I Fe 1.89, Pat 1.04, Tib 1.76, Mt 1.80,Ta 0.51, total 7.0; leg II Fe 1,50, Pat 0.82, Tib 1.23, Mt 1.23, Ta 0.36, total 5.14; leg III Fe 0.92, Pat 0.59, Tib 0.74, Mt 0.74, Ta 0.55, total 3.54; leg IV Fe 1.37, Pat 0.41, Tib 0.94, Mt 0.76, Ta 0.48, total 3.96. <i>Abdomen</i>: Oval, truncated anteriorly, with long slender either transparent or pale brown setae with blunt tips; darker brown setae along lateral edge of dorsum. <i>Epigyne</i>: Hood shallow with small round opening, internal organs visible as two pale brown kidney-shaped structures, touching anteriorly and narrower posteriorly (Fig. 24); copulatory ducts large and bulbous anteriorly, tubular posteriorly (Fig. 25).</p> <p> <i>Male</i> (holotype).</p> <p> <i>Size</i>: TL 3.88, CL 1.89, CW 1.70. <i>Colour</i>: Carapace with two longitudinal brown bands extending to PEs and into eye region; setae brown (Fig. 4); chelicerae yellow-brown; clypeus with brown marks; eye region white. Abdomen brown, mottled with white; laterally with some brown marks; setae on abdomen dark brown with dark spots at their bases laterally; venter white, covered with fine hairs. Legs yellow­brown, with white spot on each coxa. <i>Carapace</i>: <i>Eye measurements</i>: AME–AME 0.23, ALE–AME 0.53, PME–PME 0.23, PLE–PME 0.30, AME–PME 0.21, MOQL AME–PME 0.29, MOQAW AME–AME 0.28, MOQPW PME–PME 0.29. <i>Leg measurements</i>: leg I Fe 2.69, Pat 0.76, Tib 2.23, Mt 2.17, Ta 1.06, total 8.91; leg II Fe 2.26, Pat 0.64, Tib 1.76, Mt 1.56, Ta 0.99, total 7.21; leg III Fe 1.31, Pat 0.44, Tib 1.02, Mt 0.71, Ta 0.58, total 4.06; leg IV Fe 1.62, Pat 0.37, Tib 0.97, Mt 0.87, Ta 0.54, total 4.37. <i>Abdomen</i>: Oval, truncated anteriorly, but narrower than that of female. <i>Male palp</i>: Embolus short, winding less than once around tegulum; embolus tip slender and straight (Fig. 22); VTA short, somewhat flattened but variable in shape; RTA broad anteriorly, ending in short distal tooth viewed laterally (Fig. 23).</p> <p> <i>Juveniles.</i> Recognized by long and blunt setae.</p> <p> Holotype: ♂ SOUTH AFRICA: <i>KwaZulu­Natal</i>: Pietermaritzburg (29.60°S 30.38°E), xi.1942, R.F. Lawrence (NMSA 3844 a).</p> <p>Allotype: 1♀ same data as holotype (NMSA 3844 b).</p> <p> Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: <i>Gauteng</i>: 1♂ Krugersdorp (26.09°S 27.78°E), 2.xii.2003, H. Roux, pitfall trap (NCA 2009 /1552); 1♀ 1♂ Krugersdorp, Magaliesberg, Farm Nooitgedacht, 4171Q (25.88°S 27.52°E), 2.xii.2003, H. Roux, pitfall trap, grassland (NCA 2010 /2877). <i>KwaZulu­Natal</i>: 3♀ Pietermaritzburg, Scottsville (29.60°S 30.40°E), x.1943, R.F. Lawrence (NMSA 3906). <i>Limpop</i> o: 1♀ 1♂ Polokwane Nat. Res. (23.9°S 29.47°E), 8.xii.2005, T. Khoza & M. Madiba, hand sampling, false grassland (NCA 2008 /1792).</p> <p>Distribution: South Africa (Gauteng, KwaZulu­Natal and Limpopo) (Fig. 59).</p> <p>Natural history: Most specimens were collected with pitfall traps in grassland and savanna. Adult females were collected in October and December, and males during November and December.</p>Published as part of <i>Niekerk, P. van & Dippenaar-Schoeman, A. S., 2013, A revision of the crab spider genus Heriaeus Simon, 1875 (Araneae: Thomisidae) in the Afrotropical Region, pp. 447 in African Invertebrates 54 (2)</i> on pages 456-458, DOI: 10.5733/afin.054.0213, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/7918661">http://zenodo.org/record/7918661</a&gt

Heriaeus latifrons : Lessert 1919

<i>Heriaeus latifrons</i> Lessert, 1919 <p>Figs 7, 34, 59</p> <p> <i>Heriaeus latifrons</i>: Lessert 1919: 137, pl. 2, figs 1, 9 (♀); Loerbroks 1983: 131.</p> <p>Diagnosis: It resembles other species with spiniform abdominal setae but differs from them in the shape of the epigyne, which is distinct in having a flat, oval hood that is raised posteriorly (Fig. 34). Male unknown.</p> <p>Redescription:</p> <p> <i>Female</i> (lectotype).</p> <p> <i>Size</i>: TL 5.19, CL 2.31, CW 2.13. <i>Colour</i>: Carapace with two longitudinal brown stripes extending to PEs, medially with three irregular white lines between brown bands (Fig. 7); sternum yellow; endites and labium mottled with white; clypeus and chelicerae yellow-brown; eye region white and eye tubercles grey. Abdomen with dorsum white; abdominal setae transparent; venter white. Legs yellow-brown, bearing transparent setae. Palp yellow-brown. <i>Carapace</i>: <i>Eye measurements</i>:AME–AME 0.21, ALE–AME 0.18, PME–PME 0.16, PLE–PME 0.29, AME–PME 0.17, MOQL AME–PME 0.24, MOQAW AME–AME 0.30, MOQPW PME–PME 0.27. <i>Leg measurements</i>: leg I Fe 2.17, Pat 0.84, Tib 1.66, Mt 1.85, Ta 0.90, total 7.42; leg II Fe 1.81, Pat 0.89, Tib 1.46, Mt 1.38, Ta 0.67, total 6.21; leg III Fe 0.98, Pat 0.67, Tib 0.77, Mt 0.69, Ta 0.37, total 3.48; leg IV Fe 1.00, Pat 0.77, Tib 1.12, Mt 0.79, Ta 0.50, total 4.18. <i>Abdomen</i>: Round; bearing transparent long spiniform setae; venter with fine hairs; laterally with brown striae. <i>Epigyne</i>: Hood oval and flat, raised posteriorly, with lateral extensions; internal genitalia visible as pear-shaped structures; two small dark marks posteriorly indicate the position of fertilization tubes (Fig. 34).</p> <p>Lectotype (designated here): ♀ TANZANIA: Ngare na nyuki, near Arusha (3.15°S 36.85°E), De Lessert (MNHG).</p> <p>Paralectotype: ♀ same data as lectotype.</p> <p>Distribution: Tanzania (Fig. 59).</p> <p>Natural history: Unknown.</p>Published as part of <i>Niekerk, P. van & Dippenaar-Schoeman, A. S., 2013, A revision of the crab spider genus Heriaeus Simon, 1875 (Araneae: Thomisidae) in the Afrotropical Region, pp. 447 in African Invertebrates 54 (2)</i> on pages 463-464, DOI: 10.5733/afin.054.0213, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/7918661">http://zenodo.org/record/7918661</a&gt

Heriaeus sossusvlei Niekerk & Dippenaar-Schoeman 2013, sp. n.

Heriaeus sossusvlei sp. n. <p>Figs 43, 44, 59</p> <p>Etymology: The species name is a noun in apposition derived from the type locality.</p> <p>Diagnosis: The species is recognized by the combination of their short, blunt abdominal setae, as well as the unsclerotized epigyne with a hood resembling a half dome (Fig. 43), integument below hood wrinkled and internal organs visible as two large dark spots posteriorly (Fig. 44). Male unknown.</p> <p>Description:</p> <p> <i>Female</i> (holotype).</p> <p> <i>Size</i>: TL 6.06, CL 2.03, CW 1.99. <i>Colour</i>: Carapace with two longitudinal light brown stripes extending to PEs; medially with two longitudinal white stripes extending into eye region and a third longitudinal light brown stripe medially, extending to PMEs; sides mottled with white; setae transparent; sternum mottled with white along edge; endites and labium with some white marks; clypeus white; eye region white. Abdomen white, with transparent setae with yellow-brown spots at setal bases; sometimes with 6 brown setae in posterior half; venter white. Legs yellow-brown. Palp with white markings on femur and patella. <i>Carapace</i>: <i>Eye measurements</i>: AME–AME 0.20, ALE–AME 0.15, PME–PME 0.21, PLE–PME 0.33, AME–PME 0.22, MOQL AME–PME 0.28, MOQAW AME–AME 0.28, MOQPW PME–PME 0.30. <i>Leg measurements</i>: leg I Fe 2.44, Pat 1.07, Tib 1.83, Mt 1.72, Ta 0.91, total 7.97; leg II Fe 2.29, Pat 0.95, Tib 1.52, Mt 1.55, Ta 0.75, total 7.06; leg III Fe 0.93, Pat 0.68, Tib 1.01, Mt 0.53, Ta 0.45, total 3.60; leg IV Fe 1.45, Pat 0.60, Tib 1.12, Mt 0.97, Ta 0.50, total 4.64. <i>Abdomen</i>: Round, truncated anteriorly, narrower across posterior ⅓; with numerous, short, blunt abdominal setae; venter with fine hairs. <i>Epigyne</i>: Hood shaped like a half dome; integument below hood wrinkled; copulatory ducts two C-shaped tubes with folds and slightly enlarged anterior ends (Figs 43, 44).</p> <p>Holotype: ♀ NAMIBIA: 5 km of Sossusvlei (24.70°S 15.42°E), 22.iv.1979, E. Holm, hand sampled from plants (NCA 88 /330).</p> <p> Paratype: 1♀ SOUTH AFRICA: <i>Western Cape</i>: Beaufort West, Bokvlei Farm (32.73°S 23.59°E), 14.xii.2007, D.H. Jacobs, pitfall trap (NCA 2008 /4693).</p> <p>Distribution: Namibia and South Africa (Western Cape) (Fig. 59).</p> <p>Natural history: Collected on plants and a from pitfall trap in April and December.</p>Published as part of <i>Niekerk, P. van & Dippenaar-Schoeman, A. S., 2013, A revision of the crab spider genus Heriaeus Simon, 1875 (Araneae: Thomisidae) in the Afrotropical Region, pp. 447 in African Invertebrates 54 (2)</i> on pages 468-469, DOI: 10.5733/afin.054.0213, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/7918661">http://zenodo.org/record/7918661</a&gt

Heriaeus xanderi Niekerk & Dippenaar-Schoeman 2013, sp. n.

Heriaeus xanderi sp. n. <p>Figs 12, 49–52, 59</p> <p>Etymology: The species is named for Xander Combrink, who has made an important contribution in sampling spiders in KwaZulu-Natal.</p> <p>Diagnosis: The species is recognized by a combination of short, blunt abdominal setae (Fig. 12) and the shape of the genitalia. In the male palp the embolus is long, with a U-shaped tip, RTA short and broad-based with distal tooth (Figs 49, 50); in the female the epigyne has a dome-shaped central hood and internal organs visible as very dark ear-shaped structures (Fig. 51).</p> <p>Description:</p> <p> <i>Female</i> (allotype).</p> <p> <i>Size</i>: TL 3.20, CL 1.36, CW 1.31. <i>Colour</i>: Carapace with dark brown setae; two longitudinal brown stripes extending to PLEs; faint white mark centrally in posterior half; chelicerae brown with white marks; clypeus brown, some white mottling centrally; eye region brown, some white mottling centrally, eye tubercles greyish white; palps with white marks.Abdomen brown dorsally, mottled with white and dark brown; dark brown marks form transverse lines in posterior half; setae brown or dark brown (Fig. 12). Legs dark with brown markings at both ends of femur I, distal end of femora II–IV, and at both ends of metatarsi and tarsi I and II; white marks at distal edge of femora I–IV, white spots on coxae. <i>Carapace</i>: <i>Eye measurements</i>: AME–AME 0.15, ALE–AME 0.10, PME–PME 0.17, PLE–PME 0.22, AME–PME 0.16, MOQL AME–PME 0.20, MOQAW AME–AME 0.19, MOQPW PME–PME 0.21. <i>Leg measurements</i>: leg I Fe 1.17, Pat 0.60, Tib 0.75, Mt 0.87, Ta 0.53, total 3.92; leg II Fe 1.05, Pat 0.57, Tib 0.69, Mt 0.81, Ta 0.49, total 3.61; leg III Fe 0.68, Pat 0.37, Tib 0.45, Mt 0.41, Ta 0.37, total 2.28; leg IV Fe 0.83, Pat 0.38, Tib 0.54, Mt 0.51, Ta 0.38, total 2.64. <i>Abdomen</i>: Oval, truncated anteriorly; setae short and club-shaped. <i>Epigyne</i>: Small dome-shaped, central hood; internal organs visible as very dark ear-shaped structures that enclose hood; copulatory ducts tubular and folded on themselves, with associated membranes and extensions (Figs 51, 52).</p> <p> <i>Male</i> (holotype).</p> <p> <i>Size</i>: TL 2.54, CL 1.19, CW 1.15. <i>Colour</i>: Carapace with two longitudinal brown bands extending to PLEs; slight white mark centrally in posterior half, setae dark brown; chelicerae with brown mark distally; clypeus with dark brown marks; eye region white centrally. Abdomen brown dorsally, mottled with white and dark brown; dark brown marks form transverse lines in posterior half, setae brown; venter yellow-brown; laterally with brown lines. Legs with dark brown marks at both ends of femur I, distal end of femora II–IV, and at both ends of metatarsi I–IV and tarsi II–IV. <i>Carapace</i>: <i>Eye measurements</i>: AME–AME 0.08, ALE–AME 0.08, PME–PME 0.08, PLE–PME 0.09, AME–PME 0.11, MOQL AME–PME 0.17, MOQAW AME–AME 0.15, MOQPW PME–PME 0.15. <i>Leg measurements</i>: leg I Fe 1.45, Pat 0.68, Tib 1.18, Mt 1.22, Ta 0.73, total 5.26; leg II Fe 2.29, Pat 0.95, Tib 1.52, Mt 1.55, Ta 0.75, total 7.06; leg III Fe 0.93, Pat 0.68, Tib 1.01, Mt 0.53, Ta 0.45, total 3.60; leg IV Fe 1.45, Pat 0.60, Tib 1.12, Mt 0.97, Ta 0.50, total 4.64. <i>Abdomen</i>: Oval, truncated anteriorly; setae short and club-shaped. <i>Male palp</i>: Embolus long, winding once around tegulum, tip slender and curved (U-shaped); VTA short and digitiform; RTA short and broad-based with distal tooth (Figs 49, 50).</p> <p>Holotype: ♂ TANZANIA: Mkomazi Game Reserve, between Ndeya & Mabula (4.18°S 38.23°E), 22.xi.1999, A. Russell-Smith, sweepnetting woodland (NCA 97 /504a).</p> <p>Allotype: ♀ same data as holotype (NCA 97 /504b).</p> <p> Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: <i>KwaZulu­Natal</i>: 1♀ Umkhuze Game Reserve (27.63°S 32.25°E), 17.vii.2008, X. Combrink, pitfall traps (NCA 2011 /2047); 1♀ Hluhluwe Nat. Res. (28.09°S 32.1°E), 2.xii.2007, M. Mgobozi, by hand (NCA 2007 /1599). <i>Mpumalanga</i>: 1♀ Klaserie, Bokmakierie Game Farm (24.33°S 31.02°E), 8.iv.2001, R. Jocqué, open grassy area (MRAC 210.094). TANZANIA: 1♂ Mkomazi Game Reserve, Ndeya (4.18°S 38.23°E), 21–24.ix.1994, A. Russell­Smith, <i>Acacia senegal</i> woodland (MRAC 215.509); 1♂ 1♀ same data but 21–22.xi.1994 (MRAC 215.510).</p> <p>Distribution: South Africa (KwaZulu­Natal and Mpumalanga) and Tanzania (Fig. 59). Natural history: Collected on grass and trees. Females were collected in April, July, November and December and males in September and November.</p>Published as part of <i>Niekerk, P. van & Dippenaar-Schoeman, A. S., 2013, A revision of the crab spider genus Heriaeus Simon, 1875 (Araneae: Thomisidae) in the Afrotropical Region, pp. 447 in African Invertebrates 54 (2)</i> on pages 471-472, DOI: 10.5733/afin.054.0213, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/7918661">http://zenodo.org/record/7918661</a&gt

Heriaeus foordi Niekerk & Dippenaar-Schoeman 2013, sp. n.

Heriaeus foordi sp. n. <p>Figs 6, 30–33, 58</p> <p>Etymology: Named for Stefan Foord of the University of Venda, who collected the holotype. He is recognized for his contribution in recording spider diversity in the African savannah.</p> <p>Diagnosis: The species is recognized by a combination of long, dark brown, spiniform abdominal setae (Fig. 6), the small dome-shaped hood of the female epigyne (Fig. 32) and the long embolus with straight tip in the male (Fig. 30). The RTA is long, with a prolaterally curved distal tooth and a basal lobe (Fig. 31).</p> <p>Description:</p> <p> <i>Female</i> (allotype).</p> <p> <i>Size</i>: TL 4.61, CL 2.25, CW 2.18. <i>Colour</i>: Carapace yellow-brown, with two broad irregularly shaped longitudinal dark brown stripes; setae dark brown; sternum with white markings; clypeus brown; chelicerae yellow-brown, with brown marks proximally and white marks distally and laterally; eye region white between anterior eyes, brown between posterior eyes; eye tubercles white or greyish white.Abdomen brown dorsally, mottled with white, with dark brown circular marks usually forming a distinct pattern; venter lined with white; laterally with white striae with brown spots. Legs yellow-brown, with white marks on all segments except metatarsi and tarsi. Palp segments all with white markings except tibia with brown markings. <i>Carapace</i>: <i>Eye measurements</i>: AME–AME 0.25, ALE–AME 0.14, PME–PME 0.19, PLE–PME 0.30, AME–PME 0.27, MOQL AME–PME 0.34, MOQAW AME–AME 0.31, MOQPW PME–PME 0.27. <i>Leg measurements</i>: leg I Fe 1.76, Pat 0.91, Tib 1.75, Mt 1.66, Ta 0.95, total 7.03; leg II Fe 1.41, Pat 0.74, Tib 1.27, Mt 1.25, Ta 0.83, total 5.50; leg III Fe 1.06, Pat 0.53, Tib 1.00, Mt 0.67, Ta 0.66, total 3.92; leg IV Fe 1.15, Pat 0.65, Tib 1.02, Mt 0.75, Ta 0.62, total 4.19. <i>Abdomen</i>: Round, truncated anteriorly; setae long and dark brown or short and transparent. <i>Epigyne</i>: With small dome­shaped hood; internal organs visible as two indistinct bean-shaped structures lying diagonally below hood (Fig. 32); four small dark posterior spots indicate position of fertilization ducts; copulatory ducts two tubes lying diagonally below hood (Fig. 33).</p> <p> <i>Male</i> (holotype).</p> <p> <i>Size</i>: TL 3.18, CL 1.66, CW 1.74. <i>Colour</i>: Carapace yellow-brown, with two broad irregularly shaped longitudinal dark brown stripes; setae dark brown; clypeus brown; chelicerae with brown marks; eye region white between anterior eyes, brown between posterior eyes; eye tubercles white or greyish white. Abdomen yellow-brown, mottled with brown; some males with faint circular pattern similar to that of female; setae dark brown. Legs with white markings on coxae I–IV; leg I (patella to tarsus) much darker than legs II–IV. <i>Carapace</i>: <i>Eye measurements</i>: AME–AME 0.16, ALE–AME 0.09, PME–PME 0.12, PLE–PME 0.21, AME–PME 0.22, MOQL AME–PME 0.27, MOQAW AME–AME 0.22, MOQPW PME–PME 0.20. <i>Leg measurements</i>: leg I Fe 1.96, Pat 0.78, Tib 1.54, Mt 1.61, Ta 0.94, total 5.83; leg II Fe 1.67, Pat 0.69 Tib 1.34, Mt 1.25, Ta 0.68, total 5.63; leg III Fe 0.91, Pat 0.46, Tib 0.82, Mt 0.66, Ta 0.47, total 3.32; leg IV Fe 1.08, Pat 0.47, Tib 0.85, Mt 0.57, Ta 0.39, total 3.36. <i>Abdomen</i>: Round, truncated anteriorly; dorsum with scattered long spiniform, acute setae. <i>Legs</i>: Very hairy with numerous long setae. <i>Male palp</i>: Embolus long, winding once around tegulum, tip slender and straight; VTA large and two-lobed; RTA with prolaterally curved distal tooth and basal lobe; cymbial apophysis present (Figs 30, 31).</p> <p> <i>Juveniles.</i> Immature males can usually be recognized by brown dorsum, mottled with white, with dark brown circular markings forming a characteristic pattern.</p> <p> Holotype: ♂ SOUTH AFRICA: <i>Limpopo</i>: Atherstone Nat. Res. (26.75°S 24.42°E), 11.ix.2009, S. Foord, sweeping grass (NCA 2011 /2044).</p> <p>Allotype: 1♀ same data as holotype (NCA 2011 /2045a).</p> <p> Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: <i>KwaZulu­Natal</i>: 1♀ Umkhuze Game Reserve (27.63°S 32.25°E), 26.xi.2003, M. Hamer, beating tree layer (NCA 2004 /884); 1♀ same locality, 1.ii.2003, S. Lovell, yellow pan trap in <i>Terminalia sericea</i> field (NCA 2004 /122); 1♀ Ndumo Game Reserve, Crocodile farm (26.87°S 32.24°E), 12.i.2007, C. Haddad, rocky area (NCA 2007 /4526). <i>Limpopo</i>: 4♂ same data as holotype (NCA 2011 /2045b).</p> <p> Other material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: <i>KwaZulu­Natal</i>: 1 imm. Umkhuze Game Reserve (27.63°S 32.25E), 3.viii.2008, X. Combrink, pitfall traps (NCA 2011 /2048). <i>Mpumalanga</i>: 3 imm. ♂ Kruger National Park, Makhuthwanini (25.38°S 31.60°E), 16.vi.2007, pitfall traps, G. Ellis (NCA 2008 /68, 2008/69).</p> <p>Distribution: South Africa (KwaZulu­Natal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga) (Fig. 58).</p> <p>Natural history: Collected from yellow pan traps and pitfall traps as well as sweeping of vegetation. Adult females collected during October, males during September and October, and juveniles during June and August.</p>Published as part of <i>Niekerk, P. van & Dippenaar-Schoeman, A. S., 2013, A revision of the crab spider genus Heriaeus Simon, 1875 (Araneae: Thomisidae) in the Afrotropical Region, pp. 447 in African Invertebrates 54 (2)</i> on pages 461-463, DOI: 10.5733/afin.054.0213, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/7918661">http://zenodo.org/record/7918661</a&gt