#1366 -Â Nyssus coloripes -Orange-legged Swift Spider
AKAÂ Medmassa bicolor, Storena auripes, Aglena coloripes, Supunna picta, etc, etc etc.Â
Photo by Merrilyn Farnham, Hahndorf South Australia.
Corinnids or Swift Spiders are found over much of Australia, and this species is one of the more common, but easily confused with the related Nyssus albopunctatus. Found in woodland, coastal scrub and inland arid areas.  Colour variations, including gold or yellow spots, depend on location and habitat. The sudden movement with trembling front legs, stopping and restarting in erratic directions across the ground, probably mimic spider wasps (Pompilidae) hunting spiders to provision their nest. . It sometimes enters houses, running swiftly up walls and windows. Females make a flat disk-like egg-sac on a flat surface.