First, a few insects frequenting agapanthus clumps, always productive places to check.

A Stiletto Fly, family Therevidae, genus Ectinorhynchus.

A Hairy Flower Wasp, family Scoliidae.

An Assassin Bug, subfamily Harpactorinae.

A Lycid Beetle, Family Lycidae, genus Porrostoma.

On the forest floor, a very small plant hopper, identity unknown.

An early Yellow-banded Dart, Ocybadistes walkeri.

And on tree trunks, a Velvet Ant, family Mutillidae.

A scale eating Ladybird larva, Cryptolaemus species.

And as yet unidentified, possibly a Flat-headed Leafhopper nymph, subfamily Ledrinae.

A Holoplatys jumping spider was found on a towel on the clothes hoist, it was carefully relocated to a fence post with numerous cracks. Some days later movement was seen on the post, and on closer inspection it was found that it was the same spider with prey, close to the crack which is now its home.

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A calm dull day seemed right for a trip into the bush looking mainly for jumping spiders. The track along the lake was followed until some good sized stringy trees showed up, and as has been mentioned previously, the litter close to the trunks is a good place to look. And, sure enough, at the first one checked, a Jotus auripes was at home. It refused to face the camera, but the rear view shows a glimpse of the iridescent pedipalps.

The area is a stronghold for the Blue-thighed or Plumed Peacock Jumping Spider, and individuals were found at nearly every location checked. Also it must be said, all were spotted at the base of stringy trees.

Several other jumpers slipped away into the litter without giving a photo opportunity, but this as yet unidentified one paused briefly for a shot. It refused to face the camera, but again some of the yellowish pedipalps can be seen.

Back in the garden two specimens of a stretch spider, Tetragnatha species were found, the first is pretending it is not there, while the second is finishing a meal.

Also in the garden an extremely small jumper recorded for the first time, a Simaethula species. These are tiny, with the male measuring only 2.5 – 3 mm.

Some images will enlarge.