Two new records from the latest wanders around the gardens. The first was a very small fly spotted on a fence and photographed in case it might be interesting, and it certainly was when viewed on the monitor. It is a signal fly in the genus Rivellia.
Number two with its eight legs was found under a loose flake of bark on an Angophora costata. It is a mite from the family Erythraeidae, genus Rainbowia, named after the arachnologist William Rainbow.
And, despite the very cool weather as winter hangs on, this Opisthoncus species of jumping spider was out and about, albeit close to its retreat of two agapanthus leaves silked together. As mentioned before, these plants in a neighbour’s garden have proved to be popular habitat for several species of jumper. Although a little unsure of the looming camera which caused it to move inside its home, this individual soon gained confidence and re-emerged to pose, untroubled by the photography.
Horizontal shots will enlarge.