Bluelip Evarcha Jumping Spider

Evarcha flagellaris is small with features that are typical for the genus. The male has a carapace that is between 2.0 and 2.1 mm (0.08 and 0.08 in) long and 1.5 and 1.6 mm (0.06 and 0.06 in) wide. It is oval, high and sloping. The top is brown with an indistinct lighter streak in the middle, to the rear of which can be found dark patches made up of brown hairs. The eye field is black with white hairs at the front. White hairs can also be found on the spider's face or clypeus. The underside, or sternum, is yellow. The mouthparts are distinctive with light brown chelicerae, yellow labium and yellow maxillae. The male spider's abdomen is smaller than its carapace, measuring between 1.9 and 2.0 mm (0.07 and 0.08 in) in length and having a width of typically 1.2 mm (0.05 in). It is yellow on top with four brown stripes. The front portion is covered with an orange scutum fringed with thick brown bristles at the rear. The underside is pale. The spider has grey spinnerets. The yellow legs have dark stripes, brown hairs, and many spines. The copulatory organs are distinctive. The pedipalp has a long straight projection from its tibia called a tibial apophysis. …

Evarcha spiders live across the world, although those found in North America may be accidental migrants. The genus is found across Africa. Evarcha flagellaris lives in Ghana, Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The male holotype for the species was found in the Erfenis Dam Nature Reserve in Free State in 2009. Examples have also been found across the state in Willem Pretorius Game Reserve. Other specimens have been collected in the Rustenburg Nature Reserve, North West, within the Magaliesberg Biosphere Reserve in 1977 and 1980 and near Winterton, KwaZulu-Natal, in 2007. The first example to be found in Kenya was discovered on the east slope of Mount Elgon in 1948 at an altitude of 2,050 m (6,730 ft) above sea level. It is only found in Trans-Nzoia County in the country. The spider thrives in grasslands and woodlands. The holotype was found amongst Vachellia karroo trees. Other examples have been found in open fields, such as the edges of a plantation of kenaf crops.