Hypoblemum scutulatum (L. Koch, 1881) Cross-ruled Lycidas

A common jumping spider on the bark of trees, leaves and other surfaces, body length of females to 7mm, males to about 5mm, found in Queensland and NSW and likely elsewhere across Australia in suburban parks and gardens, dry eucalypt scrub to rainforest. Usually abundant when found, mostly on low foliage. Thought to prey on ants and probably other arthropods. Body and legs yellow to orange, sometimes brown, with a whitish striped abdomen. Easily recognisable by the pattern of lengthways bands down the abdomen and the black-topped head with white fringes around the eyes. The black section of the caput is in the region of the eye quadrangle, merging to yellow, orange or brown towards the rear. Builds a silken retreat about 10mm by 7mm in the leaves of shrubs. In 2010 found reliably to nest in the fruit clusters of Lomandra hystrix in December in South East Queensland. First described in 1881 as Ergane scutulata by Koch. Transferred to Sigytes s. by Simon, then revised as Lycidas scutulatus by Zabka. The species name scutulatus means cross-ruled referring to a type of stationery with two vertical lines, often seen in old library catalogue cards. ID confirmed by M. Zabka 2011. Revised by Otto, Hill and Robert Whyte in 2019