Signal flies get their common name from their habit of keeping their wings in motion as though signalling. This specimen of Pogonortalis doclea was noticed on the brick wall, and its common name of boatman fly is derived from the movement of the wings that resembles paddling a vessel.

Another small fly recently photographed is this one in the genus Homoneura, family Lauxaniidae.

Stink bugs have been quite numerous, this is from the genus Poecilometis, family Pentatomidae.

Redbacks are common spiders, here is one with prey.

Two more pictures of a male Opisthoncus necator.

A female at the entrance to her retreat made from two leaves silked together.

And two of another female who has just caught a hearty lunch.

Some images will enlarge.

It has become something of a daily routine to check for jumping spiders in the agapanthus in our neighbour’s garden, and it payed off nicely on this occasion with a brilliant male Opisthoncus necator.  Interestingly it was just on twelve months since the same species was found in another clump quite some distance away. The specific name necator means slayer or murderer, and the first image shows the massive jaws that may be the reason for the name. A female Opisthoncus was found in the same clump as the male a year ago, and that has occurred again on this occasion, which makes it likely that it is a female necator.

Female.

Male images will enlarge.