A medium-sized, slender crab spider covered in strongly bristly hairs, reported from eastern coastal Australia and Tasmania probably more widespread in most habitats with fairly dense vegetation, including suburban parks and gardens. Most of the longer bristles are along the extremely long front legs I & II and projecting rearwards from the abdomen. The eyes are together on a tubercle, where the head narrows and projects well forward from the thorax. The male and the female are similar in shape and appearance, the female a little larger. Colour is variable ranging from cream coloured to dark brown. The lighter forms, camouflaged well on hairy vegetation, are more common than dark ones. The species name means hairy. ♀ 7mm ♂ 6mm
- Female adult, dark form, from above, Rinn Avenue Bunya
- Female adult, dark form, from above, Rinn Avenue Bunya in alcohol
- Female, pale form, from above
- Sub adult on leaf from above, showing clearly when not camouflaged
- Prey package or exuvium?
- Female, face closeup
- Female, from above, Bunyobi, Obi Obi Creek
- Male, from above, Bunyobi, Obi Obi Creek
- Male palp front, Bunyobi, Obi Obi Creek
- Male palp side, Bunyobi, Obi Obi Creek
- Male palp back, Bunyobi, Obi Obi Creek
- Female from above, Bunyobi, Obi Obi Creek
- Female epigyne, Bunyobi, Obi Obi Creek
- Mite on Sidymella hirsuta - the spider
- Mite on Sidymella hirsuta close up
- Mite on Sidymella hirsuta extreme close up
- Male from above in alcohol 17-Oct-11 Rinn Ave. Bunya
- Male face closeup in alcohol 17-Oct-11 Rinn Ave. Bunya
- Female, drawing by Koch
- Male, drawing by Koch
Female adult, dark form, from above, Rinn Avenue Bunya
Female adult, dark form, from above, Rinn Avenue Bunya in alcohol
Female, pale form, from above
Sub adult on leaf from above, showing clearly when not camouflaged
Prey package or exuvium?
Female, face closeup
Female, from above, Bunyobi, Obi Obi Creek
Male, from above, Bunyobi, Obi Obi Creek
Male palp front, Bunyobi, Obi Obi Creek
Male palp side, Bunyobi, Obi Obi Creek
Male palp back, Bunyobi, Obi Obi Creek
Female from above, Bunyobi, Obi Obi Creek
Female epigyne, Bunyobi, Obi Obi Creek
Mite on Sidymella hirsuta - the spider
Mite on Sidymella hirsuta close up
Mite on Sidymella hirsuta extreme close up
Owen Seeman at QM has let us know this is an Oribatid mite - they are quite amazing. Can you imagine: "Oribatida are one of the most numerically dominant arthropod groups in the organic parts of most soils, where their densities can reach several hundred thousand individuals per square meter. Undisturbed soils can easily yield examples of 50-100 species."
Male from above in alcohol 17-Oct-11 Rinn Ave. Bunya
Male face closeup in alcohol 17-Oct-11 Rinn Ave. Bunya
Female, drawing by Koch
Male, drawing by Koch
