Supunna picta
Supunna picta
The wasp-mimicking spider or Supunna picta is one of the fastest spiders in Australia. While running, it waves its two forelegs above its body, mimicking the two antennas of a wasp.
The front two legs have a brown tinge. Male and females are identical and their length varies between 5 and 7 mm.
This species is closely related to much larger Sunpunna albopunctum (7 -12 mm) but this spider has two rows of white dashed spots on its abdomen.
In autumn and winter the females construct a flat very white disc schaped egg-sac of 5-6 mm. The spider feeds on ground dwelling insects and spiders.
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| Sunpunna picta? by Jurgen Otto | |
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| Sunpunna albopunctum by Jurgen Otto | |
| Corinnidae Corinnomma formiciforme Rainbow, 1904 Corinnomma suaverubens Simon, 1896 Medmassa australiensis (L. Koch, 1867) Medmassa bicolor Hogg, 1900 Medmassa fusca Hogg, 1900 Medmassa pallipes (L. Koch, 1873) Medmassa semiflava Simon, 1896 Methesis bimaculata Simon, 1896 |
Poecilipta janthina Simon, 1896 Poecilipta venusta Rainbow, 1904 Supunna albomaculata (Rainbow, 1902) Supunna albopunctata (Hogg, 1896) Supunna coloripes (Walckenaer, 1842) Supunna funerea Simon, 1896 Supunna michaelseni Simon, 1909 Supunna picta (L. Koch, 1873) Supunna smaragdinea Simon, 1909 Supunna versicolor Simon, 1896 |
Family Clubiona
In Australia Clubiona are predominantly found under the bark of eucalyptus trees. Clubiona robustus is a common found clubionid.
The size of these spiders is 9 -15 mm. They usually have a long, narrow body and are light brown to darker brown spiders. Their jaws are ofther broad and black of colour.
The spider often constructs a tubular silken retreat. Fourteen species are described in Australia.
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| Clubiona ZZ143 egg sac with eggs | Clubiona ZZ143 |
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| Clubiona ZZ340 | Clubiona ZZ340 by Jurgen Otto |
Known species in Australia (2005)
| Clubionidae Clubiona achilles Hogg, 1896 Clubiona apiata Urquhart, 1893 Clubiona canberrana Dondale, 1966 Clubiona cycladata Simon, 1909 Clubiona elaphines Urquhart, 1893 Clubiona laudabilis Simon, 1909 Clubiona maculata Roewer, 1951 |
Clubiona modesta L. Koch, 1873 Clubiona munis Simon, 1909 Clubiona notabilis L. Koch, 1873 Clubiona pseudopteroneta Raven & Stumkat, 2002 Clubiona robusta L. Koch, 1873 Clubiona subnotabilis Strand, 1907 Clubiona vacuna L. Koch, 1873 |
Family Gnaphosidae
This genus is in appearance closely related to the family Clubionidae. Although this family consists of almost 2000 valid species, the family becomes smaller and smaller for the Australian continent. Recently several flat spiders (Hemicloea) were moved to the family Trochanteriidae.
Gnaphosid spiders have large cylindrical spinners. The abdomen has no clear markings and their colouring ranges between grayish brown and black. They are nocturnal hunters and spent the day in a silken retreat.
The females make their thick walled egg sacs in the summer and guard it until the youngsters are born.
Gnaphosidae youngsters
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| Gnaphosidae youngsters | |
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| Gnaphosid?ZZ146 |
Known species in Australia (2005)
| Gnaphosidae Anzacia daviesae Ovtsharenko & Platnick, 1995 Anzacia debilis (Hogg, 1900) Anzacia dimota (Simon, 1908) Anzacia invenusta (L. Koch, 1872) Anzacia micacea (Simon, 1908) Anzacia mustecula (Simon, 1908) Anzacia perelegans (Rainbow, 1894) Anzacia petila (Simon, 1908) Anzacia respersa (Simon, 1908) Anzacia sarrita (Simon, 1908) Anzacia simoni Roewer, 1951 Aphantaulax scotophaea Simon, 1908 |
Battalus spinipes Karsch, 1878 Ceryerda cursitans Simon, 1909 Echemus dilutus (L. Koch, 1873) Echemus griseus (L. Koch, 1873)Eilica albopunctata (Hogg, 1896) Eilica bedourie Platnick, 1985 Eilica contacta Platnick, 1975 Eilica daviesae Platnick, 1985 Eilica mullaroo Platnick, 1988 Eilica rotunda Platnick, 1975 Eilica serrata Platnick, 1975 Epicharitus leucosemus Rainbow, 1916 |
Homoeothele micans Simon, 1908 Intruda signata (Hogg, 1900) Megamyrmaekion austrinum Simon, 1908 Megamyrmaekion echemophthalmum Simon, 1908 Megamyrmaekion penicillatum Simon, 1908 Megamyrmaekion perpusillum Simon, 1908 Megamyrmaekion vestigator Simon, 1908 Micaria croesia L. Koch, 1873 Micaria inornata L. Koch, 1873 Symphanodes dianiphus Rainbow, 1916 Zelotes flavens (L. Koch, 1873) Zelotes sarawakensis (Thorell, 1890) |
Ed Nieuwenhuys, Ronald Loggen, 27 December 2006
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