Diaea puncta

Diaea puncta is a species of spider in the family Thomisidae. It is found throughout Africa and is commonly known as spotted Diaea crab spider.

Distribution

Diaea puncta is found widely throughout Africa. In southern Africa it is known from Lesotho, Eswatini and South Africa.
In South Africa, it is known from all the provinces.

Habitat and ecology

Diaea puncta inhabits all the floral biomes except the Desert Biome at altitudes ranging from 4 to 2020 m above sea level.
These free-living plant dwellers very commonly found on vegetation. The species was also sampled from crops including avocado, cotton, pistachio and strawberries.

Description

Conservation

Diaea puncta is listed as Least Concern by the South [African National Biodiversity Institute] due to its wide geographical range. It is protected in more than ten protected areas.

Taxonomy

Diaea puncta was described by Karsch in 1884 from Ilhéu das Rolas, an island in São Tomé. Mello-Leitão created the superfluous replacement name Diaea pluripuncta in 1929.