Location is generalised around where we found the individual.
In the cheesery I opened a little-used folder. Attached vertically to the inside cover was this nest full of eggs. No large spiders have been seen in the room. The eggs hatched 8 days later.
on underside of leaf of commiphora tree sp
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/198276980
cared for by about 5 ants.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/198276802
Looks like a reed-mimic. First few photos were staged with a branch I found nearby and stuck into the sand. The last photo is a "as found".
outside of a small silk-lined burrow. spotted at night by its reflective eyes
With two others under rock.
see
Edge of basalt hillside and on side of football pitch.
Under senegalia tree
Which didnt provide much shade so very little herbaceous vegetation.
Obsereved hunting behaviour:
Spider waited on branch with entire web built below the branch. Prey flew into the web, where the spider proceeded to gather up majority of its web. Spider returned to original position to feed on prey.
Hoekplaas group walk 13. Spider 5. Suggested Mexcala sp. Perhaps M.rufa.
I have monitored several dozen individuals of this species (and their breeding activities) since 2009. This particular individual was first spotted on 11 April 2019 with a new egg case; by 11 May 2019 a second egg case had been added. During a visit on 15 June 2019, the spiderlings from the first egg case had hatched, had moulted in the web next to the egg case and had dispersed. No subsequent visits were made to check on the fate of the second egg case.
Photos: spider looking gravid on 2 May 2019, egg cases on 11 May 2019 and first encounter (shortly after depositing first egg case?) on 11 April 2019.
under basalt rock on basalt hillside. In shade of large senegalia tree see
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/186525467
I looked at soil under and within 30 cm of the rock.
No ants nest. Just a few solitary ants running around
see
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/186569138
one ant mimic heteroptera
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/186533642
one small adult beetle see
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/186569711
One large mite
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/186534715
About 7 adult small curculionidae beetles found
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/186534391
Peeping out from it's home. Soon the branch will give way, but I have planted another next toit which they will hopefully use.
I can't make out whether this is murder most foul or a loving embrace. One Myrmarachne was moving up the wall, the other coming down. I dashed inside to get my camera and found them like this. When I went back later there was only one of them and I couldn't see any sign of the other one.
18.1mm
The biggest female I've seen so far.
Found under the bark of a fallen tree.
on leaf of sedge https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/160492535
I couldn't believe my eyes! This beautiful weevil in my garden. How did it know to find the wild rosemary bush in the garden? Definitely the highlight of the CNC 2023 for me.