Runcinia acuminata

Fact Box Species: Runcinia acuminata (RM) formerly Runcinia elongata (JS) Family: Thomisidae Body length: female: 9 mm male: 5 mm Habitat: On the dry seed heads of native grasses which it uses to protect its egg sac; makes no web but ambushes its prey; also rests on on pale leaves or flowers Toxicity: Unknown; venom assumed to be essentially harmless to humans; not obviously aggressive

Side view Front view With egg sac The male

The tapering abdomen with two pale lateral lines on its upper surface is quite distinctive and the spider also has the first two pairs of stout legs extended straight outwards and slightly forwards.

Known range: Recorded along the east coast of Australia from Cape York to Geelong Victoria, but not in the western parts of Australia or in Tasmania.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: None.