Diores lesserti
Diores lesserti is a species of spider in the family Zodariidae. It occurs in southern Africa and is commonly known as the Swaziland Igloo spider.
Distribution
Diores lesserti is found in Lesotho, Eswatini, and South Africa. In South Africa, it has been recorded from three provinces: KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga, with numerous records from Kruger National Park.
Habitat
The species inhabits the Savanna biome at altitudes ranging from 47 to 1131 m above sea level.
Description
Males of Diores lesserti have a total length of 3.70 mm, while females are larger at 5.68 mm. The carapace is orange with a slightly darker margin, the sternum is yellow, and the chelicerae match the carapace coloration. The legs are yellow, and the opisthosoma has a sepia dorsum almost entirely covered by a brownish-yellow scutum in males. Females have similar but slightly darker coloration overall.
Ecology
Diores lesserti are free-living ground-dwellers that construct igloo-shaped retreats with small stones, characteristic behavior of the genus Diores.
Conservation
The species is listed as Least Concern due to its wide geographical range. It is protected in five protected areas, including Blouberg Nature Reserve.