Collecting spiders for identification
The easiest and safest method of collecting spiders, for both you and the spider, is to carefully place a wide-mouthed jar (such as a jam jar or coffee jar) over the spider. Then slide a piece of card or stiff paper under the jar and spider and turn the jar right way up. You can the place the lid on the jar, trapping the spider inside.
If you want to keep the spider alive, punch a small hole in the lid of the jar, and place a little moist cotton wool in the bottom of the jar. If you are only keeping it for a few days, the spider will not starve. If it is to be kept for longer, a live cricket, beetle, mealworm, cockroach or fly should be provided - something the same size or smaller than the spider.
If you wish to have your spider identified, take it to the nearest scientific institution that provides an identification service. If a spider has bitten someone and the spider has been caught, take the spider along with the patient, as this will help doctors determine how to treat the bite.
If your spider is already dead, place it in a tightly sealed jar with enough methylated spirits to cover it. This will preserve it until you are able to have the spider identified.
To send a dead specimen in the mail for identification, place it into a small airtight plastic container - a film canister is perfect - and place a cottonwool ball dampened with methylated spirits on top, before sealing the container well. Place the container into a padded bag for mailing, along with the date/location of collection and a return phone number and address.
Never send live animals by mail and never send glass jars or containers with liquids in them!
The following resources may help you to identify your spider:
Spider Identification - where to go in Australia:
- NSW: search & discover
http://www.amonline.net.au/sand/index.htm - QLD: Queensland Museum
http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/features/spiders/ - WA: Western Australian Museum
http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/nat_sci/terr_invert/terr_invert.htm#Arachnology - SA: South Australian Museum
http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/invert.htm#smcai - VIC: Museum of Victoria
http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/spiders/ - NT: Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
http://www.nt.gov.au/dam/magnt/guide.html - TAS: Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
http://www.tmag.tas.gov.au/
What about collecting other invertebrates such as insects and mites?
You can use the same methods used to collect spiders for collecting other invertebrates for identification. Tiny invertebrates such as mites can be collected using a paintbrush and small jar.
