White On White

The flowering parsley is attracting a number of insects and I couldn't let an opportunity like this go by unrecorded.

This is a White Crab/Flower spider - Thomisus spectabilis enjoying a Cabbage White meal!

Typically, they go for the neck and that's exactly what this one did when despatching the butterfly.

I hope to be able to keep an eye on this one because they tend to stay put once they've found a good spot.

(Click to enlarge)

A Couple of Spiders

At last, the weather has begun to warm up again after a few cold week or so.

These two spiders are taking advantage of the porch light to do some easy hunting.

(Click to enlarge)


This little lady paid me a visit as I was sitting outside observing moth activity on Tuesday night.

She's very similar in colour and body shape to the Little Striped Wolf (Lycosa furcillata) but much larger. Around 2cm from head to tail so I suspect she is Lycosa sp. possibly godeffroyi, (Garden Wolf) which are widely distributed.



Another Huntsman. The little arrow on this shot is pointing to some staining on the jaw hairs. Probably gravy! :-)

Thanks to some outside expert assistance, I now have a fair idea as to the correct identity of this particular species I'm encountering frequently here.

Isopeda leishmanni

'I Didn't Do It!'

'Honest Injun' !!



Nothing would eclipse The Duncan Factor with his image here, however - this Salticid was feeding on the Huntsman when I sprung it this afternoon. By the time I'd grabbed my camera and returned to the scene of the crime, I found the Salt offering sympathy rather than exhibiting it's true motivation!

(Click image to enlarge)


(Salticid yet to be identified. Possibly Servea sp.)

A Moth, Caterpillar And A Spider

Well, at long last, some moths are starting to come in!

It was a warm night and the vinegar flies were on the wing.

I really don't know what this moth is, but it did behave like a a member of the family Tineodidae.

About 1.5cm in length, it's wings appeared to be held out at right angles and it held it's body up from the substrate. Simple antennae held at an angle from the head and it's forewings were pointed.

(Above information sourced from "A Guide To Australian Moths" by Paul Zborowski and Ted Edwards.)

(Click images to enlarge)



I will check further when time allows.




Again, no idea what species this caterpillar belongs to. It's probably a pest.

It was one of about three I saw last night feeding on Poa labillardieri. It was approximately 3cm in length. When disturbed, it drops into the plant.

I had a good look through Don Herbison-Evans site (link on right of page) but couldn't immediately identify it. More homework required - unless somebody is familiar with it. Mosura? :-)




I think Mosura can take a bow! His excellent post on Eriophora pustulosa taught me to be a little more observant.

When I took this shot yesterday at around 1pm, I was almost tempted to look at Uloboridae because of the rather untidy web. This was one of about 3 spiders of the same species I saw all co-habitating in and around a few webs on the tree. Also, these spiders were active during the day, which, on reflection, is unlike any Eriophora species I have observed. Approximate length - 1cm.

It was only when I had the image enlarged on my computer screen that I noticed the projections on the abdomen which seem to indicate it's probably Eriophora pustulosa.

The Salticids Are Active!

I must confess, Salticids make it to No. 1 of my Favourite Spider list!

I spotted this one when I was watering some pot plants this afternoon.

Just over 1cm in length, I think it's Breda sp. Probably Breda jovialis.

B.jovialis is known as the "Australian Jumping Spider" and a very colourful spider it is. This spider is very active in the palp department, waving and shimmying palps every which way!

Don't you just love 'em? :-)

(Click image to enlarge)

A Warm Spring Night.....

...and this plump Sparassid was on my downpipe, tucking into a quick snack!

I think it's Isopedella flavida with a definite glint in an eye! This species is large and they are known to utilize walls. I suspect this one is bedded down under some flashing on the south side of the house.

It allowed a couple of shots then nicked off to finish its prey in peace!

This is a large file so those on Dial-Up - be warned!

(click to enlarge)

Correction: Species is probably Isopeda leishmanni

Lychas Anyone?

Family: Buthidae

Although there is some similarity between the Marbled Scorpion (Lychas variatus) and Lychas marmoreus, the Little Marbled Scorpion, I think this one is the latter.

Oh heck, it could be the former as L variatus is known in Western Victoria! :-)

(Click images to enlarge)


Total body length of this one was about 3cm (typical size of L marmoreus) and a prong is evident at the base of the stinger (telson). Both species have this.



There are around nine known species of Scorpion in Victoria.

I was stung by one of these little tackers a couple of years ago! A real burning sensation, which was quickly extinguished by inserting afflicted digit in iced water.

A Sparassid At Last!

Well, at least a Neosparassid!

This "Badge Huntsman" was on my sliding door when I returned from annoying a couple of amphibians with my camera last night. The weather has warmed up and more like spring so I imagine spiders will become a little more active now.

This one did not appear to be fully grown but rode the door backwards and forwards as I came in and out from several missions, including rounding up a couple of logs to keep the fire going during the night.

Neosparassids can be identified easily by the black shield (usually with 2 white dots) on the abdomen but the pattern of the shield may differ between species. They are also known as "Shield Huntsmen"

Just so you know, this is the only way I will be looking at the underparts of Huntsmen. Them on one side of glass and me on the other! :-)

(Click to enlarge)

Tempting Fate

Blame it on my eyes, but the smaller arachnid does not look like the male of this particular Desidae species!

I watched this little battle for over an hour this morning. The Black House spider was out of her comfort zone and away from her web.

(Click to enlarge)


The smaller spider was persistent. It did resemble mating behaviour, but the male of Badumna insignis is supposed to be similar in colour to the female but slightly lighter, so what exactly was going on here?


It came down to the female numerous times and stroked her head and front legs. She tried to lunge but had little traction on the aluminium door frame. The small spider would retreat up the thread and when well out of reach, turn around and repeat the process all over again!

Whatever it was going on between these two, it was certainly interesting to watch.




UPDATE: I sent myself off to do a little research and it's possible the small arachnid is Achaearanea sp. Same family (Theridiidae) as the Redback. If that's the case then this encounter may have more to do with a territorial dispute than anything else.

Salticid And Sparassid

Yesterday, I found this tiny Salticid darting around on the leaf. It was possibly in the process of constructing a single thread bridge from one leaf to others. There were threads just visible this morning, but I couldn't find the spider.

I think this one may be Maratus sp.

This poor little Huntsman was exposed when I removed a piece of canvas to pack away.

Approximately 1.5cm in body length, I think it's Neosparassus sp - possibly calligaster (previously Olios calligaster) I've learnt with many invertebrate species, there seems to be constant arguments about genus/species.

I had no intention of upending this model to see if it had a black patch underneath the abdomen, so the arguments may rage on!

Confirmed: Neosparrasus calligaster

Eriophora heroine

Well, I think it is!

I found the markings on this Orb Weaver striking.



These were her eggs, which hatched fairly quickly and she positioned herself in the same leaf each morning not far from her brood.

Fun With Spiders

I was born an arachnophobe. Yes, I inherited the gene from my mother who would have an attack of the vapours at the mere mention of the word 'spider'!

I had to overcome this reckless desire to assassinate spiders. I set about making myself learn what I could about them. It took some time and it was far from easy.

Once I became seriously interested in studying invertebrates, I also became rather brave with the digital camera - set on macro! Super macro requires the photographer to get up close and personal with the subject! Sparassidae - Huntsmen, became a photo opportunity rather than monsters bent on causing an immediate bout of apoplexy!

Long gone are the days when a full can of a popular brand household pesticide was applied vigourously to a hapless Huntsman who made a fatal error of judgement by venturing inside. Long gone are the gynmstic exercises with the hose of a vacuum cleaner set on maximum suck! Huntsmen are still not entirely welcome in my home, especially the bedroom, but nowadays they are quietly relocated outside via a large jar and a piece of plastic. (Canon provide an excellent plastic sheet as part of the packaging of their photo paper!)

I really enjoy my interaction with spiders now. My camera has been a godsend to all large arachnids!

I must admit, I've developed a fondness for the Garden Orb (Eriophora biapicata.)

Over a few nights recently, I opted for a bit of night photography.



This Garden orb was a little miffed that I rudely interupted web-building for the night's hunt. I really like the camouflage in this shot.



This one was showing off! There was a bit of a breeze and the spider was swinging back and forth, ergo the slight focus malfunction, but I thought it was pretty cute!



I think this is Holconia sp taking advantage of a mobile fly magnet!

Correction: Probably Isopeda leishmanni

SALTICIDAE

I'm not sure which genus this Salticid belongs to. It may be Opisthoncus.

Around 1cm in length and a smooth abdomen.

The jumping spider I assume to be the male, has a decent pair of fangs, visible in both photos.

There is a white trinangular marking on the head.

(Click images to enlarge)





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11/4/2008

Let's see if this link works!
http://lifeunseen.com/index2_list_217.php

Image 20 on the "Unknown" list is very similar, if not the same.
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Wrap-around Spider

I'm pretty sure this is Dolophones conifera.

Only a small spider (about 1.5cm) and an expert at camouflage, the Wrap-around spider uses its concave abdomen to 'wrap around' twigs, small branches or flatten itself against bark, concealing itself very well. They are orb web builders.

Unfortunately, this one disappeared a few days after I took these shots. It may have been eaten or succumbed to the heatwave we were having at the time.

(Click image to enlarge)



Finishing off a bee before hiding for the rest of the day.

Getting ready to construct a web.

Lynx Spider

I'm taking a wild stab here but I think this is a Lynx. (Family Oxyopidae)
This one is quite pale, about 1.3cm and has obvious spines on the legs.

(Click image to enlarge)



I will keep my eye on her and hopefully, be in a position to take a shot of the spiderlings when they hatch.

Spiderling Gallery

Although my amateur study has concentrated on lepidoptera, I am also interested in other aspects of entomology. These days, any invertebrate attracts my curiosity!

The clarity of these photos could have been better. A little wind makes the task difficult with such tiny subjects!

I thought the formation in the first photo was interesting. The spiderlings are still on the plant this morning, in large numbers.

(Click the images for enlargement)



These are the Hanging Geranium batch.



These spiderlings have since dispersed.

Spiderlings

It's hatching time!

On Saturday, an egg mass contained in a dense brownish coloured web strung between two twigs of a small tree began moving. The spiderlings were cream with a dark stripe down the middle of the abdomen. I think they may be Orb-weavers (Araneidae.)

I have had the pleasure of sharing my evenings with a number of Garden Orb-weavers over the summer. Three days ago, however, they all disappeared. Either one very hungry noctural predator took the lot or they have deposited their eggs on some foliage near their web sites (although I am yet to find them) and subsequently died.

The egg mass on my hanging geranium began hatching late yesterday afternoon (see Unidentified Cocoons for photo.) The spiderlings are black with a white U-shape on the abdomen. A very large number of spiderlings were active this morning.