Backyard Spiders. Budgewoi to Bateau Bay.
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This site was built with assistance from the following sites and people. We recommend them for further information and identification and thank their builders and owners for the excellent resources they have provided.
Dr. Ron Atkinson's. Find A Spider Guide. Robert Whyte and Dr. Greg Anderson's Arachne.org. The Chew Brothers' Brisbane Insects.
Ed Nieuwenhueys. Spiders of Australia. as well as Project Noah.
BN98181215
Quick guide to common spiders
ARANEIDAE Orb Weavers
CORINNIDAE Corinnids
DESIDAE Intertidal Spiders
DEINOPIDAE Net-casters
HERSILIIDAE Two-tailed Spiders
LAMPONIDAE White tails
LYCOSIDAE Wolf Spiders
OXYOPIDAE Lynx Spider
SPARASSIDAE Huntsman
TETRAGNATHIDAE
THERIDIIDAE Theridiids
THOMISIDAE Crab spiders
ZORIDAE. Wandering Ghosts
Cross-ruled Lycidis. Lycidas scutulata
Above: Lycidas, a male. 4 to 5 mm long. Lycidas are normally found hunting among ferns, on leaves, walls and fences. They seem to have a preference for surfaces rather than thin supports such as grass or twigs.
They are easily identifiable by the markings on the body and the black head. They are not the only jumping spider to have the black cover on their head but the abdominal markings are unique to them.
Lycidas scutulata is endemic to Australia (only found in) as is the genus Lycidas apart from one in China which probably isnt really from the genus
When confronted or disturbed these little spiders will often turn to face the disturbance and will follow the camera or viewer.. They have excellent sight and seemed to be able to detect the photographer at a distance of several metres if the light is right.
Below: A huge Lycidas female, This spider appears to be pregnant. The name "Cross-ruled Lycidas" is from Robert Whyte's site (see bottom of the page)
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