Dolomedes minor, commonly known as the New Zealand Nursery Web Spider, is the most common species of Dolomedes in New Zealand. It is a widespread endemic species found in a range of habitats throughout the country, and its nursery web is often seen on shrubs, long grass, rushes, and other vegetation, especially during the summer months. It is also one of New Zealand’s most variable fishing spider, ranging in colour from pale brown to very dark brown.
females make a protective nursery web for their young, which gives the species its common name. New Zealand fernbirds are also known to hunt these spiders, and may feed both the spider and its egg sac to their chicks.
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