Episinus bishopi

Congo Butterfly Comb-Foot Spider
	Female
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Theridiidae
Genus:	Episinus
Species:	E. bishopi
Binomial name
	Episinus bishopi; (Lessert, 1929)
Synonyms
	Episinopsis bishopi Lessert, 1929 ;

Episinus bishopi is a species of spider in the family Theridiidae. It is commonly known as the Congo butterfly comb-foot spider.

Distribution

Episinus bishopi is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Africa.

In South Africa, it is recorded from the provinces Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, and Western Cape. Locations include Addo Elephant National Park, Wyndford Guest Farm in Fouriesburg, Wakefield Farm, Baynesfield in the Natal Midlands, and Windmeul in Ridgeback Paarl.

Gallery

Habitat and ecology

The spiders were found at ground level between low vegetation from the Grassland, Fynbos, and Thicket biomes at altitudes ranging from 233 to 1645 m.

Conservation

Episinus bishopi is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. Although the species is presently known only from one sex, it has a wide geographical range. There are no significant threats to this species. It is protected in Addo National Park.

Taxonomy

Episinus bishopi was originally described by Lessert in 1929 as Episinopsis bishopi from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The species is known only from the male.

References

1 2 Lessert, R. de (1929). "Araignées du Congo recueillies au cours de l'expédition organisée par l'American Museum (1909-1915). Troisième partie". Revue Suisse de Zoologie. 36 (1): 103–159. doi:10.5962/bhl.part.117628.
1 2 3 "Episinus bishopi (Lessert, 1929)". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
1 2 3 4 5 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Theridiidae of South Africa. Part 1 A-P. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 29. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7515890. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.

[lessert1929-1] 1 2 Lessert, R. de (1929). "Araignées du Congo recueillies au cours de l'expédition organisée par l'American Museum (1909-1915). Troisième partie". Revue Suisse de Zoologie. 36 (1): 103–159. doi:10.5962/bhl.part.117628.

[wsc-2] 1 2 3 "Episinus bishopi (Lessert, 1929)". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-10-01.

[dippenaar2021-3] 1 2 3 4 5 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Theridiidae of South Africa. Part 1 A-P. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 29. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7515890. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.