Charminus atomarius

Charminus atomarius has been recorded from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Tanzania and South Africa.^[3]

In South Africa, it has been recorded from two provinces at altitudes ranging from 43 to 839 m.^[3]

South African localities include Ndumo Game Reserve, Tembe Elephant Park, Pietermaritzburg, Umhlali, Ithala Nature Reserve and uMkhuze Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, and Hoedspruit in Limpopo.^[3]

The species is found inhabiting grasses, herbs and low-growing shrubs, especially in shaded areas. They are active at night and are usually sampled with sweep nets from the Savanna biome.^[3]

The legs are pale and lightly banded. The abdomen has a dark pattern bordered by white, sometimes with a pair of white spots. The carapace has a median pale band bordered by two darker bands.^[3]

Charminus atomarius is listed as Least Concern due to its wide geographical range.^[3] The species is protected in Ndumo Game Reserve, Tembe Elephant Park, Ithala Nature Reserve and uMkhuze Game Reserve.^[3] There are no significant threats to the species.^[3]

The species was originally described by Lawrence in 1942 as Cispius atomarius from Umhlali in KwaZulu-Natal.^[1] It was transferred to Charminus by Blandin in 1978, who also synonymized Cispius quadrimaculatus Roewer, 1955 with this species.^[4] The species is known from both sexes and has been revised by Blandin (1978).^[3]