Diores russelli

Russell's Igloo spider
	Male
	Male
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Zodariidae
Genus:	Diores
Species:	D. russelli
Binomial name
	Diores russelli; Jocqué, 1990

Diores russelli is a species of spider in the family Zodariidae.^[2] It occurs in southern Africa and is commonly known as Russell's Igloo spider.^[3]

Distribution

Diores russelli is found in Botswana and South Africa.^[2] In South Africa, it has been recorded from the Free State province at Wyndford Guest Farm near Fouriesburg.^[3]

Habitat

The species inhabits the Grassland biome at approximately 1601 metres above sea level.^[3]

Description

Males of Diores russelli have a total length of 3.17 mm, while females measure 4.29 mm. The carapace is yellow with a black eye field and is slightly suffused with grey on the clypeus. The sternum is pale yellow, and the chelicerae and legs are yellow. The opisthosoma is pale sepia with a pale yellow scutum in the anterior half of the dorsum, followed by two sepia longitudinal bands with sinuous edges. Females have similar coloration but lack the dorsal scutum.^[1]

Ecology

Diores russelli are free-living ground-dwellers that construct the characteristic igloo-shaped retreats typical of the genus Diores.^[3]

Conservation

The species is listed as Least Concern due to its wide geographical range in southern Africa.^[3]

References

1 2 Jocqué, R. (1990). "A revision of the Afrotropical genus Diores (Araneae, Zodariidae)". Annales, Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Sciences zoologiques. 260: 1–81.
1 2 "Diores russelli Jocqué, 1990". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
1 2 3 4 5 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Jocqué, R.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2024). The Zodariidae of South Africa. Part 1 (A-D) version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 77. doi:10.5281/zenodo.14404920. Retrieved 20 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.

[jocque1990-1] 1 2 Jocqué, R. (1990). "A revision of the Afrotropical genus Diores (Araneae, Zodariidae)". Annales, Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Sciences zoologiques. 260: 1–81.

[wsc-2] 1 2 "Diores russelli Jocqué, 1990". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 20 September 2025.

[dippenaar2024-3] 1 2 3 4 5 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Jocqué, R.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2024). The Zodariidae of South Africa. Part 1 (A-D) version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 77. doi:10.5281/zenodo.14404920. Retrieved 20 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.

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