Second day of #SCANZ26 has started!

Just like Arnold Schwarzenegger of The Terminator fame, these little predators are on a mission to seek and destroy — in their case, they target mosquitoes #LoveSpiders @uk.theconversation.com @aunz.theconversation.com theconversation.com/meet-the-mos...

Meet the Mosquito Terminator - a spider that likes us and eats our enemies. I have written about these legendary spiders for The Conversation 🕷️ @theconversation.com @uk.theconversation.com @aunz.theconversation.com! #LoveSpiders @marsdenfund.bsky.social @royalsocietynz.bsky.social @smcnz.bsky.social

A positive spider story to start the day, which helps to inspire curiosity rather than fear 🕸️🕷️🕸️ #LoveSpiders @smcnz.bsky.social @tvnz.bsky.social @marsdenfund.bsky.social @royalsocietynz.bsky.social www.1news.co.nz/2026/04/28/w...

Spiderweb blankets! Have a look at these beautiful photos that I was asked to comment on today 🕸️🕷️🕸️ @smcnz.bsky.social www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/web-over-...

Banquet time at #CO32026! @compcogsoc.bsky.social

At #CO32026 at the moment, sharing some new Portia excitement! 🕷️ #LoveSpiders @compcogsoc.bsky.social

An absolutely *adorable* little bee 😍 for your morning

What a cool spider @waynemaddison.bsky.social! Before I looked at this video closely, I thought I was seeing a spider covered in ants 🕷️ #LoveSpiders

Learning the science of spider cognition is awesome. Love that i work w Fiona @drspidernz.bsky.social at UC Also, Children of Time great.

Thank you @aptshadow.bsky.social! 🕷️

My latest publication (What it Means to be a Mimic) is now online @apajournals.bsky.social! #OpenAccess I think this may be my 50th publication. Milestone! 🕷️ psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/202...

I may be into spiders, but I love a good mantis

In case anyone needs to see this in their timeline today #GardenTreasures

What's so amazing about Jim Henson as a puppeteer is that he could literally be explaining that Kermit is made out of felt and ping pong balls and yet Kermit still feels alive the whole time he's doing it

#Antique Watches, Cameras, and Medical Equipment Morph Into Meticulous #Steampunk #Spiders by Peter Szucsy #art More information and photos of his amazing art are found here: www.thisiscolossal.com/2020/11/pete...

No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition. Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Morning all! I recently did an interview with NBR about why I took legal action against my employer despite knowing I was going to lose money. They’ve just made the interview free to view so here’s the link if you are interested www.nbr.co.nz/toil-and-tro...

Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again. #Pinks #ProudBlue

Who can enjoy this toucan? You can.

Merry Christmas! #Christmas

This Christmas spider has been a favourite for a while 🕷 #Christmas #Spider #LoveSpiddrs

I have submitted my abstract (the deadline was extended to December 19). Excited to see Montréal for the first time! 🕷

Our latest paper is out, and it's on one my favourite spiders, Evarcha culicivora! Mate choice as a third context in which a mosquito-specialist jumping spider attends to red-coloured cues #OpenAccess royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article...

Psychology end-of-year party today. The theme was Christmas movies, so it was time to be Princess Fiona

Being bitten by a radioactive spider is always a bit of a gamble tbh.

Habronattus borealis male, from Pomquet Beach, NS

Been a busy time because I've been putting together an online course on Comparative Cognition for University of Canterbury. It's launching in a week from now! courseinfo.canterbury.ac.nz/GetCourseDet...

If your porch lights are on this spooky season, you may be attracting spiders! 🕷️🕸️🎃 Grad student extraordinaire Wes Walsh just published his work in @animbehsociety.bsky.social . Check it out! nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...

Inside Dewey the Jumping Spider’s head 👀🔍

Happy Halloween! Hope you are enjoying spooky season and Halloween. We made a jumping spider jack-o-lantern this year! A true collaboration: the 11yo carved the pedipalps (they look like small arms near the mouth) and I carved the 8 eyes and 8 legs. Legs are tricky! 🐡🕷️

Morning peeps! I’ve written a piece for @thespinoff.bsky.social on why I ended up taking legal action against my employer and a little bit about how it played out. The whole story needs a book to tell but this is a good start 😂 thespinoff.co.nz/society/01-1... thespinoff.co.nz/society/01-1...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! 🎃👻 Is that a pumpkin or a spider butt? The marbled #orbweaver is all decked out for fall and the spooky season (though, really, this lovely lady was very shy and harmless)! #Araneidae: #Araneus marmoreus #Arachtober

This one is for the Children of Time fans (scale should be about right)! Enjoy this jumping spider (Pancorius sp.) Jack-O'-lantern!! Thanks to @nickybay.bsky.social for the reference image (www.flickr.com/photos/nicka...). #halloween #jackolantern #arachtober #jumpingspiders #salticidae

Take it all off! - #Arachtober 31 Molting Western Spotted Orbweaver (Neoscona oaxacensis) #spider #macro #macrophotography #naturephotography

I noticed a quickly shutting tiny door. I pried it open to see this set of legs. Only good shot I got. Possibly a Southwestern Trapdoor Spider (Eucteniza relata). First trapdoor spider I have found. Found in South Texas. #Arachtober #spider #macro #macrophotography #naturephotography

I wanted to share this gorgeous little jumping spider for #Arachtober! This is a currently unnamed species of Trite that I found in Christchurch. Not normally found there. Amazing what can happen when you take the time to look 🕷 #LoveSpiders

A podcast episode for #Arachtober! "New Zealand's Dr Fiona Cross tells a tale of two spiders: one that outsmarted its researchers and another that's mysteriously drawn to our smelly socks." Some legendary spiders, as well as my story of what inspired me to work with them 🕷 pod.link/aHR0cHM6Ly9m...

Wolf Momma - #Arachtober 22 (Hogna antelucana) #spider #stereophotography #naturephotography

Most scientists are not great at communicating their science, says Dean Pentcheff #LivingData2025. #ScienceCommunication is effective when we use narratives. Tell your story. Then you’ll get into people’s hearts. #JaneGoodall

Phidippus arizonensis #Arachtober #spider #jumpingspider #stereopgrahy #naturemacrophotography #macrophotography

It's been a lovely #Arachtober so far - sharing spider cognition research at a special Arachtober evening (where I made everyone wish each other a Happy Arachtober), plus legendary spider socks and sparkly spiders. Arachtober is the gift that keeps on giving! 🕷#LoveSpiders

#Arachtober 13 Crab Spider 2:1 magnification macro I shot last night. I love the depth and detail of this one. Found in South Texas, USA. #spider #crabspider #macrophotography #naturephotography #stereogram

#Arachtober 10th is International Jumping Spider Day! Created in 2017 to show the cutest and most adorable spiders as a way for people to embrace instead of fear spiders. Started by photographer Shaham Tamir. Bold Jumping Spider (Phidippus audax) #JumpingSpiderDay #macro #macrophotography #spider

My kind of collaboration.

He's perfect, and #Arachtober themed Mr Phidippus cardinalis appeared this afternoon and made my day. ❤️ #EmotionalSupportSpood

#Arachtober 1st - Tropical Orb Weaver (Eriophora ravilla). One of my favorites. Very common in South Texas. Can be found up the East Coast of USA down to South America. This is a stereo image. Cross your eyes for 3D. 🕷️ #spider #orbweaver #arachnid #macrophotography #naturephotography

Ok, this is on my office door now. Wishing you all a happy #Arachtober! To learn about the history of Arachtober, check out this website Arachtober.com @arachtober.bsky.social @ashleymbradford.bsky.social #LoveSpiders