Fauna Recovery New Zealand

Trite auricoma

Every beginner macro photographer needs a jumping spider photo. This one was living in the shed on a high shelf. The yellow “moustache” below the eyes identifies it as an adult male. He is about 10 mm long and is exclusively a predator. Young jumping spiders like to try out various prey species- it’s said they will eat a slater, but only once. This adult has probably become quite choosy.

Trite auricoma is endemic and very common. They are lots of fun to observe as they like analysing people and will often stay still to do so. They have excellent eyesight and will size up a prey animal, devise a position and method to attack from, and implement the plan according to what the set-up will allow.

If you search “BBC Earth jumping spider” or “Thomas Shahan jumping spider” on YouTube you will find wonderful videos of some foreign jumping spiders. It’s a line call as to whether David Attenborough or Thomas Shahan has the most calming voice.

Cermatulus nasalis

This cluster of tiny (2 mm) bugs was on a leaf of Tetragona. I disturbed them accidentally, but they reconvened on the same leaf very quickly. They were such a contrast with their shiny black against the fresh light green of the native spinach leaf.

I’d have got nowhere on this one without the helpful people on iNaturalist: these bugs are the first instar of the Brown Soldier Bug. The adults survive the winter and the females lay their eggs in spring. The hatched nymphs then go through 4 moults over the summer. The first instar bugs stay close to where they hatch, often next to their egg cases, although I did not see any of those. They drink water with their piercing mouthparts and may take plant juices. From the second instar onwards they become predators. You can read more at Landcare’s Interesting Insects website. I’ll add photos of older animals if I see them over summer.