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Current media releases:

Bush Blitz: Working together to help restore Australia’s biodiversity (Minister Plibersek)

Butterfly expert Rod Eastwood from WA Museum and Wunggurr ranger Logan Umbagai are working together to catch the delicate butterflies of the region.

Some of the elusive butterflies of the Kimberley caught at Charnley River Station, ready to be added to the Western Australian Museum natural history collection.

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Past media releases

A new species of spider that looks like a humbug and is just as sweet

The new species of jumping spider looks like a Humbug and is just as sweet

The new species of Peacock Spider has “eyes” on his abdomen to show off as part of his mating “dance”

The new species of Wolf Spider looks like it’s wearing a fur stole around its shoulders

Past media releases:

Fun with Bush Blitz in the Gardens – 2 Dec 2018

Spider research assistant Eamon Amsters from the University of Queensland shows some budding arachnologists spiders discovered at the Bush Blitz

Budding scientists show no fear of a large Huntsman spider discovered during the Bush Blitz

Liam of the Canberra Herpetological Society and his Diamond python Phoenix share a moment with an eager young herpetologist

Dr Nimal Karunajeewa of the Melbourne Herbarium showing visitors moss discovered during the Bush Blitz

Bush Blitz expedition ventures to the nation’s capital

Media-media release-Bradhshaw-fish.docx

Could Cape York Peninsula be the spider capital of Australia?

All images and video are copyright to R. Whyte

Images available as high resolution, contacts on media release.

New species of Brush-footed Trap-door spider – Mygalomorphae Barychelidae Idiomata sp.

New species of jumping spider, Salticidae Jotus sp. nov. cf auripes

Jumping spiders can be 5-20mm long, and known for jumping up to 50 times their body length, they have 8 eyes and hunt during the day.

A new species of Gnaphosidae Ceryerda, “swift spider”

Other species found do not have these “fuzzy” front legs, the male waves its plumed legs like a mosquito. These spiders are about 8-12mm long. See this spider in action

New species of ant eating spider, Zodariidae Habronestes

Ant eating spiders mimic ants to be able to hunt them without being detected easily – the most dangerous form of camouflage (if you are an ant)

New species Saddle-legged Trapdoor, Conothele sp. Nov., family Ctenizidae.

Trapdoor spiders live in burrows where they wait for their prey in hiding. Some make doors for their burrows hence the name “trapdoor”.

Botanists confident they’ve discovered new plant species in pristine Victorian rainforest

Possible new species of violet © RBG Victoria

Possible new species of violet © RBG Victoria

Possible new species of violet © RBG Victoria — New species of violet © RBG Victoria

Media-media release-Li Cunxin dancing spider-11 July 2016

Peacock spider doing mating display-maratus eliasi- credit Michael Duncan

Maratus Ottoi -credit Michael Duncan

Maratus licunxin - credit Michael Duncan — Maratus licunxin – credit Michael Duncan

An unexpected find in the heart of the Gibson Desert – September 2015

Teachers find new species in far north Queensland – July 2015

New tarantula species discovered on Nt Bush Blitz – June 2015