We're at it again! Help us look for and photograph ANY spiders you see in Utah this week, to celebrate Antelope Island State Park's 9th annual Spider Festival. Join the 2021 BioBlitz here. Any observations you make through August 8, 2021 will count towards this statewide blitz, and will boost knowledge of UT spiders - we're excited to see what you find this year!
Many thanks to all for the exciting spider observations made across Utah! You recorded over 40 species of spiders in 16 counties, including some first records on iNaturalist in Utah! See below for ways you can stay involved, and help NHMU record more spiders (and other species) during our upcoming bioblitz events! Here are some cool finds from earlier this month:
Keep recording your spider observations! Each photo can provide valuable information to researchers, no matter when you add it to iNaturalist. If you are interested in contributing to additional bioblitz events, NHMU is hosting another remote bioblitz August 22-30th, along sections of the Bonneville Shoreline and Jordan River Parkway trails. Get out whenever you can to help us find more spiders along these corridors! More information can be found on our Trailside BioBlitz project.
Interested to keep the spider conversation going? Join The Natural History Museum of Utah's Citizen Science program and iNaturalist Curator @tigerbb (Rebecca Ray) for an interactive online conversation about Utah spiders this Saturday August 8 at Noon - we're calling it "Ask An Arachnologist"- where you can learn more about Utah spiders, ask questions, and share stories. Anyone is welcome to join the fun! You will need to register to receive Zoom connection info for this free online event. For more information and to register, visit: https://forms.gle/AmkDQYb3sfEXRgXq5
Spider photographs added to iNaturalist help paint a picture of species biodiversity. As a snapshot of a species at a time and place, these observations can provide useful scientific information, but identifying spiders via photo can be tricky. Capturing some key features can help researchers learn as much as possible from your iNaturalist observations:
-Take more than one photo
-Get in close to photograph key physical features like patterning, leg and body shape, and if possible the eyes. Some spiders can only be fully ID'd by their eye patterns.
-In addition to close-up photos, make sure to get a shot from farther away, to show where the spider was found (a bridge railing, fence line, rosebush, etc.) - habitats can be important data!
-Photograph the web
The information above is meant to encourage more detailed spider observations, when possible. It may not be possible to get all, or sometimes any of these accomplished in a given observation. If you cannot meet all of these aspects, fear not! Post the best observation you are able to. Note that some genera may still not be fully distinguished with photographic evidence. NHMU recommends practicing ethical nature photography at all times. When possible, please do not cause animals stress, respect webs and territories, and remember that you are a visitor to their world.
Information is a compilation of recommendations from NHMU scientists and local Utah Arachnologists. Special thanks to:
Christy Bills, Entomology Collections Manager, Natural History Museum of Utah
Rebecca Ray, Volunteer, Natural History Museum of Utah
Madelyn Boudreaux, Spinnerette Photography
