{{Short description|Species of spider}} {{Speciesbox | image = | image_caption = | image2 = | image2_caption = | taxon = Microstigmata geophila | authority = (Hewitt, 1916)<ref name="hewitt1916" /> | synonyms = ''Microstigma geophilum'' <small>Hewitt, 1916</small> }}
'''''Microstigmata geophila''''' is a species of spider in the family Microstigmatidae.<ref name="wsc" /> It is endemic to South Africa.<ref name="dippenaar2021" /> It is the type species of the genus ''Microstigmata''.<ref name="dippenaar2021" />
==Distribution== ''Microstigmata geophila'' is endemic to South Africa, with a very restricted distribution in the Eastern Cape province around Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown). The species is known from two localities, Grahamstown/Makhanda and Grahamstown Coldspring Farm.<ref name="dippenaar2021" />
==Habitat and ecology== The species is a ground-dwelling spider that appears to be restricted to conditions of high humidity and relatively even temperature as found in the understory and litter layer of indigenous forest and close-canopy bush. It inhabits the Thicket biome at altitudes ranging from 550 to 684 m above sea level.<ref name="dippenaar2021" />
==Description== {{see also|Glossary of spider terms}}
''Microstigmata geophila'' is known from both sexes.<ref name="dippenaar2021" />
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==Conservation== ''Microstigmata geophila'' is listed as Data Deficient due to limited knowledge about its current status. The species is known only from collections sampled prior to 1916. The species is threatened by loss of habitat due to farming activities at Coldspring Farm. More sampling is needed to determine the species' range and understand current threats.<ref name="dippenaar2021" />
==Taxonomy== ''Microstigmata geophila'' was originally described by John Hewitt in 1916 as ''Microstigma geophilum'' from specimens collected around Grahamstown. The species was transferred to the genus ''Microstigmata'' by Embrik Strand in 1932 as a generic replacement name. It was subsequently revised by Griswold in 1985.<ref name="dippenaar2021" />
==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="wsc">{{cite web | url=https://wsc.nmbe.ch/species/21287 | title=Microstigmata geophila (Hewitt, 1916) | publisher=World Spider Catalog | accessdate=23 September 2025}}</ref> <ref name="dippenaar2021">{{cite book | last1=Dippenaar-Schoeman | first1=A.S. | last2=Haddad | first2=C.R. | last3=Foord | first3=S.H. | last4=Lotz | first4=L.N. | year=2021 | title=The Microstigmatidae of South Africa. Version 1 | publisher=South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide | pages=6 | doi=10.5281/zenodo.6735731 | url=https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6735731 | accessdate=23 September 2025}}{{Creative Commons text attribution notice|cc=by4}}</ref> <ref name="hewitt1916">{{cite journal | last=Hewitt | first=J. | year=1916 | title=Descriptions of new South African spiders | journal=Annals of the Transvaal Museum | volume=5 | pages=180–213}}</ref> }}
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Category:Microstigmatidae Category:Endemic spiders of South Africa Category:Spiders described in 1916