Runcinia acuminata

Fact Box Species: Runcinia acuminata (RM) or 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; sometimes seen on green leaves or pale 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.

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