cecileroux's Favourites
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Hedgehog Spiders (Genus Pycnacantha)Observer
skuakangaDescription
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 111 April 2019.
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Northern Violin Spider (Loxosceles simillima)Observer
botswanabugsDescription
under rock. Basalt hillside.
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African Flightless Hangingfly (Anomalobittacus gracilipes)Observer
wesselpretoriusDescription
Having Cyclosa sp. as meal
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African Flightless Hangingfly (Anomalobittacus gracilipes)Observer
wesselpretorius
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Genus PutoniolaObserver
botswanabugsDescription
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
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Large Carpenter Bees (Genus Xylocopa)Observer
fionahellmannDescription
Peeping out from it's home. Soon the branch will give way, but I have planted another next toit which they will hopefully use.
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Ant-mimic Spiders (Genus Myrmarachne)Observer
fionahellmannDescription
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.
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Zululand Holcolaetis Jumping Spider (Holcolaetis zuluensis)Observer
wynand_uysDescription
18.1mm
The biggest female I've seen so far.
Found under the bark of a fallen tree.
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Red Gum Lerp Psyllid (Glycaspis brimblecombei)Observer
rouxnebothaDescription
On Eucalyptus spp
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Branded Swifts (Genus Pelopidas)Observer
mariedelportDescription
One of the larger brown butterflies I've seen?
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Tribe TinginiObserver
botswanabugsDescription
on leaf of sedge https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/160492535
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Cape Porcelain Weevil (Lixus schoenherri)Observer
fionahellmannDescription
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.
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Genus TheridulaObserver
sallyslakDescription
479 Spider red green shiny big ab
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Entelegyne Spiders (Infraorder Entelegynae)Observer
spekplantDescription
Look carefully if you dare, there is another small spider on the back.
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Camel-back Spider (Menneus camelus)Observer
tjeerddwDescription
maybe Camel-back Spider Menneus camelus
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Common Bark Spider (Caerostris sexcuspidata)Observer
nikiescottDescription
Dear spider experts. Maybe you can help to shed some light on my observation. I found this beautiful female Caerostris with a male sitting tightly next to her. I thought it was just coincidence and that he would become dinner soon. However, two weeks later they were still "cuddling" and sitting in a similar position, once on a different tree connected by the bridge line. When I first saw them, the female had produced one egg-sack, and a second one during my second week of observation. I assume the male is the same one during this time. Then, to satisfy my curiosity, I went on the hunt for more Caerostris spider in the same vicinity. I found six more females!, and two of them had a male sitting next to the female, just like spider no. 1, while one male was sitting between the "horns" on top of the female. I have not yet found a female with more than one male, but will keep observing. My question is whether "mate-pairing" in spiders is common, or am I missing something. Thanks!
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Namaqua Plumefoot Mite (Eatoniana namaquensis)Observer
wilderness_botswanaDescription
In sand was disturbed by digging.
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Desert Ant-mimicking Jumping Spider (Mexcala rufa)Observer
hamishrobertsonDescription
On rock outside nest entrance of Camponotus fulvopilosus, the workers of which it mimics in appearance. Photographed by Duncan Robertson.
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African Fish-Eagle (Icthyophaga vocifer)Observer
fionahellmannDescription
Juvenile
