Just when I was thinking that 2020 couldn’t get any more surreal, I went and discovered a new species of spider! And I found it in my own backyard! I should back up a bit and give you all a little context.
About 18 months ago, I found a little Jumping Spider on my recycling bin.
It was late afternoon and, as many of us know living in the Northern Illawarra, by that time the sun is long gone sinking down behind the escarpment.
So the light was pretty poor for taking photos but this lovely little boy was feeding on a bug and that always makes for an interesting post so I took some photos and didn’t think too much more of it.
Fast-forward to June of this year when I stumbled across a teeny dark brown spider on the umbrella out on our deck.
I almost didn’t run inside to get the macro lens for the camera because it was just another brown jumping spider, right? But I’m nothing if not predictable and a total sucker for Jumping Spiders with their huge puppy dog-like eyes and ended up on my hands and knees trying to get a photo of this little one who had sailed down from the umbrella and was now bouncing along the deck itself.
At one point, the spider stopped and turned. And then it looked up at me. And that’s when I got my first look at its incredible, vibrant blue face.
This spider was not only very unique looking but also stunningly beautiful! After trying to research the identification myself, and then heading out for a coffee and to do the groceries, I finally posted a photo on a spider identification page hoping to get a quick, easy answer as to what this spider was.
The answer was quick alright, but completely unexpected – I had discovered a species that was new to science! So that was the easy bit.
I was about to find out how difficult the next bit was.
Basically, for the spider to be scientifically described, named and entered into the scientific literature, the taxonomist requires at least one specimen.
By the time I got around to posting my photo, the spider I had seen was LONG gone! I spent the next three and a half months searching.
I turned over leaves, all of the leaves, turned over garden furniture, looked in every nook and cranny.
And the bin? Well, that got special attention as I found, after going back through old photos, that the spider I first saw 18 months ago was the same species as my special blue-faced boy.
But nothing. Day after day, nada, zero, zilch.
Until a few weeks ago, having pretty much exhausted myself searching, I happened to walk past my deck and there on the side was my spider! Just sitting there, in plain sight! Even more ridiculous was the fact that I found ANOTHER just two days later, bouncing along the dash in my car! And so, I carefully collected a specimen, packing it safely for an overnight trip to Melbourne and sent him off, where he is currently with Joseph Schubert, the taxonomist who is currently reviewing the Jotus genus of jumping spiders.
What a year! And to think, all of that extra time at home has helped to contribute to the scientific record of spiders in our region and, indeed, the country! So keep your eyes open, for this little brown spider with the bright blue face.
He might be jumping around your yard too!