If you've been following Backyard Zoology for a while, you probably would have already met this handsome, blue-faced gentleman. It's a new to science species of Jotus jumping spider that I discovered in my backyard around 3 years ago.
I originally found him in June (there's a bit more to this story but that's a deep dive for another day) and after posting a photo asking for an ID, I learnt he was a new species. Now that was damn exciting, trust me, but I didn't realise just how difficult it would be to find the little fella again until I searched, often on my hands and knees, sometimes in tears from utter frustration, for another THREE MONTHS until one turned up INSIDE my car and another in the house!
He's in the process of being described and will eventually be 'official' but it's so neat to still have him turn up around the house. Matt called out to me this afternoon that there was a jumping spider out the front and even just having a quick look at his head and abdomen I knew it was 'my' spider.
His face is much more vibrant in direct sunlight but he was still a lovely shade of blue even in the later afternoon shade.
Undescribed Jumping Spider
Northern Illawarra
