About Pardosa astrigera L.Koch, 1878
Pardosa astrigera is a small wolf spider. Females have a body length of 6–10 mm (0.24–0.39 in), while males have a body length of 5–9 mm (0.20–0.35 in). Its cephalothorax ranges from blackish-brown to yellowish-brown, with a distinct median dorsal stripe that runs the full length of the carapace. White setae are typically found on the pedicel. The sternum is blackish-brown. The abdomen also ranges from blackish-brown to yellowish-brown, with a faint brownish-yellow longitudinal dorsal stripe. Abdominal dorsal patterns vary widely between individuals, but the typical form has several thin lateral chevrons and 5 pairs of spots along the abdomen margins. The ventral side of the abdomen is yellowish-brown, with a blackish-brown area in the middle. Descriptive diagnostic features with illustrations are published in Koch 1878, Saitō 1939, and Namkung 2003. Diagnostic photographs of this species are provided in Baba and Tanikawa 2015. Pardosa astrigera is one of the few spider species that can be identified at a glance, thanks to its unique median longitudinal band on the carapace. This yellowish-brown band is rounded behind the eyes, forms a star shape around the fovea, and narrows as it approaches the abdomen. Pardosa astrigera has been found in plains, mountains, paddy fields, open grasslands, riverbanks, and other similar open areas. It is most often found in relatively dry habitats.
