Well, look who I found today: 'my' new to science spider. Hilarious to think a couple of years ago I was desperately trying to find a specimen to send to a scientist for describing and it took me over THREE MONTHS, and now I can walk around the corner and he's sitting on a fence!
I spent ages trying to get this little one's face and he just would not turn around. Well, he did occasionally but it was a lightening fast spin, a flash of blue from the face and then back to looking at his head and abdomen! I ended up getting some images when he was sitting in the shade, on the other side of the fence to me, running his pedipalps over his chelicerae, fixing me with his bright blue eyes. Man, I love this little dude. Can't wait until he's official.
I've added some photos of a specimen back in May that I found. It's the same species but in its penultimate moult, so the moult before he gets his adult colours - including the blue face and palps. You can see some additional patterning on his abdomen. It's pretty cool learning more about this species. Hoping to see him with a female this season 🤞
'My Spider'
Northern Illawarra
