About Phlegra fasciata (Hahn, 1826)
Phlegra fasciata is a jumping spider species that, like many other jumping spiders, shows clear sexual dimorphism in both body size and coloration. Females are larger than males, with a total body length of 6 to 8 mm, while males measure 5 to 6 mm in body length. The female's cephalothorax ranges in color from golden brown to black, with two white bands on its dorsal surface and a white border along its margins. The female's opisthosoma is also golden brown to black, with a distinct, longitudinal white median band running down its center and white stripes along its sides. White hairs grow beneath the female's anterior eyes, and the female's legs and pedipalps have visible ringed (annulated) patterns. Males are almost entirely golden brown to black in overall coloration. Although males have the same basic markings as females, these markings are much fainter and harder to distinguish, which gives males a generally darker overall appearance. P. fasciata has a very large distribution across the Palearctic region, including Europe, Turkey, the Caucasus, Russia (from European Russia through to the Russian Far East), Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Iran, Afghanistan, India, China, Mongolia, Korea, and Japan. This species primarily lives in sandy and stony areas that have sparse vegetation.
