Body length 3 to 4.5 mm. Prosoma black-brown, eye region and margin slightly brighter. Prosoma black-brown. Sternum black (c.f. Hypsosinga sanguinea - sternum yellowish red, sometimes darkened). Legs reddish yellow, unicoloured. Opisthosoma strongly bulged, black-brown with 3 white longitudinal stripes, mainly males (rarely) completely black, ventrally black with 2 bright longitudinal stripes.

Photos must exclude other Hypsosinga species, particularly H. sanguinea.

This species spins orb webs on low vegetation, often on calcareous grassland but also in damper areas of heathland, acid grassland, and other tussocky and rough grasslands.

Adults in summer.

The species is widespread in parts of southern Britain, with few widely scattered records in the north. 

Local in Leicestershire and Rutland.

http://srs.britishspiders.org.uk/portal.php/p/Summary/s/Hypsosinga+pygmaea