Day 1 - Spider man!

Today marked an exhilarating commencement to our exploration of the enigmatic invertebrate world on King Island. Guided by the seasoned arachnologist, John Douglas, our mission was to unearth the mostly tiny spiders that call this island home. Armed with a white collection tray, we ventured into the island's reserves, prepared to 'beat around the bush'—literally. The technique involved gently banging leaves to dislodge lurking insects onto our awaiting tray, and with bated breath, we awaited our arachnid discoveries.

Our efforts yielded fruitful results, with the discovery of the diminutive yet commonly found wolf spider and several species of agile jumping spider. However, the highlight of the day was the unearthing of a rare species of Salticidae, closely related to the renowned Peacock spider. 

The expedition continued to a sandy expanse, where we scoured the terrain for telltale signs of trapdoor spiders. While the initial findings seemed promising, a subsequent investigation of a seemingly promising trapdoor spider hole turned out empty, leaving us eager for more discoveries. Yet, the day didn't conclude without a breakthrough, as one of our team members successfully captured a live trapdoor spider, marking a significant addition to the island's recorded arachnid roster.

And then as we returned down the sandy track, another member of the group presented John with a tiny jeweled prize - Maratus volans, otherwise known as a Peacock spider.