Click on the pictures for a larger view.
Look for the description of the species at the bottom of the page.
Description of Oxyopes heterophthalmus
Physical Characteristics
Strongly resembles other Oxyopes species, especially Oxyopes ramosus.
Female 5 to 7 mm.
Abdomen brown to dark brown with a dark brown, light brown fringed cardiac mark and a light brown longitudinal band which extends from there to the spinnerets. Slanting white stripes along the sides.
Carapace brown to dark brown with two from the eye region rearwardly converging white longitudinal stripes. On top between the eyes also a short white stripe. At the front three broad white stripes which run from the eyes to the chelicerae.
Legs and palps brown with dark annulations and black spines.
Male 5 to 7 mm.
Markings almost identical to the female. The basic color however, is almost black. The pattern on the carapace is sometimes less clear. The male is recognizable by the long, outward pointing extention on the patellae of the palps. The other species do not have this.
Habitat
In heather and other low shrubs.
Distribution
Occurs in Central and Southern Europe, more common to the south.
Period
Spring and summer.