Stegodyphus bicolor

Stegodyphus bicolor is a species of spider in the family Eresidae. It is found in Namibia and South Africa, where it is commonly known as the bicolor Stegodyphus velvet spider.

Distribution

Stegodyphus bicolor occurs in two countries: Namibia and South Africa. In South Africa, the species is recorded from the Northern Cape, where it is protected in Augrabies National Park.

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits Desert and Succulent Karoo biomes at altitudes ranging from 33 to 720 m above sea level.
Stegodyphus bicolor constructs retreat-webs and lives solitarily in nests made with yellow-orange silk.

Conservation

Stegodyphus bicolor is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide global range. It is protected in Augrabies National Park.

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Octavius Pickard-Cambridge in 1869 as Eresus bicolor from Namibia. It was revised by Kraus & Kraus in 1989.