Although insects are the dominant organisms that inhabit the earth’s terrestrial ecosystems, arachnids such as spiders, mites and scorpions are also abundant and extremely diverse. Spiders are common inhabitants of all land environments, and can be routinely found in and around houses in urban environments.

All these spider photographs have been taken around a house in the Perth Hills – but can you identify them? Do you know how they reproduce, what they eat, and who eats them and which are or are not dangerous?
This presentation covers some of the more common species that occur in the Perth Hills, including insights into their diversity and conservation. The cast includes trapdoor spiders, red-back spiders, daddy-long-leg spiders, orb-weaving spiders, peacock spiders and scorpions, among many others. Dr Mark Harvey will provide a brief synopsis of the spiders and talk about some of his favourite spiders. He will explain that most species of spiders are relatively harmless to humans, but others can inflict a bite that’s dangerous to some people. But which is which?

Speaker: Mark Harvey is Head of the Department of Terrestrial Zoology and Senior Curator at the Western Australian Museum, and curates a preserved collection of ca. 250,000 of arachnid and myriapod specimens. He is an internationally recognised systematist specialising in the study of arachnids and other terrestrial invertebrates, including spiders, pseudoscorpions, schizomids, scorpions, mites and millipedes. He studies the evolutionary origins of the Australian fauna, largely focusing on phylogenetic systematics using molecular and morphological datasets. He is particularly interested in the conservation of short-range endemic species such as subterranean fauna and trapdoor spiders, and is currently Vice President of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature.

Please complete the RSVP if you intend to attend on the night so that we know how many people are coming. If you have completed the RSVP but can’t attend because you are unwell, please call the DRB Nats phone on 0436 448 647.