Creature Feature #361: Jumping Spider

The Jumping Spider Family, Salticidae, contains more than 5,000 species. These eight-legged hunters have excellent vision, with four pairs of eyes, including her large anterior eyes. This vision assists her in hunting, courtship and navigation. She is a diurnal hunter, preying on small insects. She makes her leaps by altering the pressure of fluid within them, allowing her to jump several times the length of her body. She does not build webs, using her silk as a safety rope, but occasionally will create a small silken shelter to protect her - and her eggs. Certain species of Jumping Spider have been shown to be capable of learning, recognising and remembering colours, and changing her behaviour accordingly.

Creature Feature #301: Happy Face Spider

The tiny Happy Face Spider lives only on the Hawaiian islands. She is named for her characteristic abdomen which, in some individuals, resembles a happy face. In others it can be frowning, or somewhat more abstract. This patterning varies across the islands. Measuring a mere 5 mm, her life is mostly spend beneath the foliage in the rainforests. Here she builds a somewhat reduced web than other spiders, feeding on small insects. Unlike most spider species, she exhibits strong maternal care. Not only does she guard her egg sac, but when the spiderlings hatch she will catch insects for them to feed upon.

Creature Feature #216: Enamelled Spider

The Enamelled Spider is a large Orb-Web Spider, found in the eastern and southern states of Australia. The body length of the females can measure up 18mm, with the legs making her appear rather larger. Webs are elaborate and beautiful, as is the spider herself, her abdomen shimmering in shades of green and brown. Colouration can vary by geographical location. She is primarily nocturnal, lurking in vegetation during the day and coming out at night to dine on flying insects trapped in her web.  Her web is built approximately 1 metre from the ground and at a slight angle to better catch her prey.

Creature Feature #134: Crab Spider

Crab Spider is a fanciful name commonly given to members of the Thomisidae Family, for their crab-like appearance or tendency to sit with their front legs slightly raised. Predominently, she is an ambush hunter, hiding amongst flowers and waiting for insects to drop by. Some species are even known to change colour, camouflaging with their flower haunts, whereas others resemble bird roppings. Her flattened body allows her to crawl into narrow crevices and hide in small cracks. Her front legs are very strong, and when she locates her prey she snatches it close, incapcitating it with a venomous bite. Although they do not build webs, Crab Spiders use their silk as drop lines, lowering themselves into new hunting environments.

Lost in the Woods

This is the first large picture I've made in some time. It measures 16 x 8 inches and is in two parts, to fit inside a circle journal. The theme was "creepy and dark". Since creepy and dark isn't really my style, I did my best.

I like the spider. Although he is kinda cute.

Alas, my next circle journal partnership also requires me to draw something else "Creepy and dark" but it has been suggested that I do something Tim Burton-esque. So, I'm thinking... a graveyard picnic with Catrinas.

Also, in other news - part one of "Lemurs: a Saga" is finally complete. And I am now taking a break. Part two will begin in November, with NaNoWriMo.

Mini-Maxicards

What is a Maxicard?
A maxi card is a postcard with a postage stamp placed on the picture side of the card where the stamp and card match or are in concordance.

These are mini-maxicards because they are ATC sized. All images were scanned prior to the stamps being applied so I could include them in my NZ Naturally art book. The Huhu beetle you can see in the post below.

Original stamps were designed and drawn by my artistic idol, Dave Gunson. He's a very talented New Zealand artist who not only has a similar style to mine but also responded to my message in his Guestbook AND encouraged me to start on my portfolio. You can see his art here.

The critters featured are:
Chorus cicada - The males of these small insects perch high in the tree canopy and sing loudly to attract the ladies (who remain mute). Their Maori name is "kihikihi wawa" which means "cicada" and "roaring sound of heavy rain" and rather describes the racket they are prone to making. They are one of the heralds of summer. This noise is made by vibrating organs in the abdomen (called tymbals) which are amplified by reasonating chambers. The insects also drum their wings against the tree trunk to add percussive clicks. This song proves irresistable to the females who come in swarms to mate with the singer.

Huhu beetle - description in the post below

Katipo Spider - this wee black fellow has recently made the headlines for two reasons - one is for biting a nude male bather in his delicates and causing him much pain and embarrasment and the second is for making the Endangered Species list. This means it is ILLEGAL to kill them. They are the most venomous native spider in New Zealand and make their home in sand dunes where they weave their webs in rotten logs, native dune grasses or in and under litter. So, be careful where you tread/sit/nude sunbathe or you might cause yourself unnecessary pain AND get fined for the slaughter of an endangered species. However, Katipo prefer to eat small invertebrates and only the female is capable of biting. Although the venom can be fatal, an antivenom has been developed and noone has perished of it since.