Evarcha vittula

Evarcha vittula is small to medium-sized with looks that are typical for the genus. The male has a carapace that is between 2.4 and 3.2 mm (0.09 and 0.13 in) long and 1.8 and 2.0 mm (0.07 and 0.08 in) wide. It is a dark brown oval spider with an orange streak down the middle of the top and white hairs on the side. The eye field is black with fawn scales around the front eyes. The underside, or sternum, is light brown. The mouthparts are distinctive with black chelicerae, brown labium and brown maxillae that have lighter edges where they chew. The spider's abdomen is similar in size to the carapace, measuring 2.5 and 3.6 mm (0.10 and 0.14 in) long and 1.5 and 1.7 mm (0.06 and 0.07 in) wide. There is a delicate scutum on the front third of the abdomen. The underside is grey and has two narrow dark stripes. The spider has grey spinnerets. The dark brown legs have dense dark hairs and many spines. The pedipalps are brown. The spider has distinctive copulatory organs. There is a long straight projection from the palpal tibia called a tibial apophysis. The palpal bulb is rounded with a bulge sticking out of the middle and a very short embolus. The tibia has long hairs, with shorter hairs projecting from the palpal bulb itself. The female has not been described. The species can be distinguished from others in the genus by the striped pattern on its abdomen. …

Evarcha spiders live across the world, although those found in North America may be accidental migrants. The genus is found in many parts of Africa. Evarcha vittula is endemic to South Africa. 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 province including in the Willem Pretorius Game Reserve. The first example seen outside the province was collected in 2010 in KwaZulu-Natal. It is likely to also live in the provinces of Gauteng, Northern Cape and North West. In comparison to other spiders in the genus, Evarcha vittula prefers to live in grass-dominated environments. It thrives in open grasslands with scattered trees, living under rocks and on grass tussocks woodlands. Some examples have been found amongst woodland of Rhus lancea trees. Others have been seen openly on the exposed surface of rocks.