Nursery Web Spider #2
This Nursery Web spider jumped onto Leonie first, then it was passed to Callie - who coos over these critters the way other people coo over puppies and kittens. I'm not even kidding.
Nusery Web Spider
We came across this beautiful Nursery Web spider in a Beachhaven garden. Spiders are incredible creatures, though best appreciated at a distance. Thus, we tried not to think too much about the wherabouts of this guy's family, once we were ducking under trees and crawling beneath shrubs...
Green and Golden Bell Frog
A Green and Goden Bell Frog. No matter how many times we tried to kiss him, he refused to turn into a prince. In fact, he leapt away... :/
Sheetweb Spider
There are 29 species of Sheetweb Spiders (Cambridgea) in New Zealand, and we've named this one the Gigantus nightmarus. This fella landed with a notable thud when it dropped from a branch in one West Harbour garden. Sheetweb spiders have decent sized bodies, long legs, and are fast moving. Very fast! Fortunately they're not aggressive. Though, we wouldn't like to have one scuttle under our clothing...
Nurseryweb Spider
The Nursery Web spider recently made the NZ Herald a little while ago, when one was discovered by a Christchurch couple who thought they'd come across an invading species of giant spider-like aliens (Okay, that was a heavily ad-libbed assumption.) This particular dude was spotted in Auckland's Riverhead forest while one of our fairy's was on a family adventure. If you've ever seen a nest-like web on the top of a gorse bush, then you've found the nest of a Nursery Web spider. Keep an eye out for the fast-moving mama who likes to hang out nearby to keep her babies safe - she'll be one of the largest New Zealand spiders you've ever seen!
Black-Headed Jumping Spider
This Black Headed Jumping Spider hitched a ride with one of our fairies one day after an afternoon amid some West Auckland flax. Despite the big fangs, these guys are pretty cute - naww look at that lil dude! He wants to be friends!
Two Spined Spider
The Two Spined Spider can often be found on citrus trees. The females are the pretty ones (as pictured) and can grow up to 9mm in length, whereas the males are tiny (2mm), brown and exceptionally boring.
Orbweb Spider
This Orbweb spider was spotted in a Herne Bay garden. These lil critters like to make their homes between shrubs, so keep an eye out for one in your garden - they're beautiful!
House Centipede
Wikipedia tells us the House Centipede is normally harmless to humans, but their bite can possibly cause a reaction similar to a sting. If you have these guys living in your house, think twice about eradicating them - they'll take care of the roaches, bed bugs, earwigs, flies & moths for you! (What would be worse though?)
Giant Leaping Worm
Giant Leaping Worm. While this is not the official name of the humble earth worm, it is the title we've given to THIS particular fella after it LEAPT from it's hole and caused one of our toughest fairies to scream.
Green and Gold Bell Frog
A Green and Gold Bell Frog hiding in a bromeliad. These guys are classed as globally vulnerable so consider it your lucky day if you spot one in your garden. As well as insects, they like to eat mice. Definitely worth keeping them around...
Palm-ers
Distant relatives to Cousin It, Palm-ers are a more upbeat, tropical variety of... hairy beast. According to ancient lore, these creatures love hanging out with the fruit salad plants. They also enjoy margaritas and long strolls on the beach. (Just something to keep in mind. If you're single. And lonely.)
ring necked pheasant
Here's an unlikely Garden Critter - a hand-raised pheasant! Nawww... "One can eat a peasant but one cannot eat a pheasant" - that's a little ditty one of our Garden Fairies made up to teach her children the difference between peasants and pheasants. You'll probably notice this version of the ditty is the wrong way around - we just didn't think it would be polite to endorse the eating of pheasants in the company of, well, a pet pheasant.