Undescribed spider species - what to do about them in real life?

Nature Talk
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I live in a part of Australia which is a biodiversity hotspot. Spiders are a particularly good example of this with common spiders that many locals can recognise not having their own name (the colourful unmistakeable Gasteracantha species that is not G. westringi). Thanks to the ID-a thon it seems that Cyrtaphora species are also in dire need of a review as those tent spiders behind our garden sheds and under our caravans are not fitting easily into the descriptions of known species.

So, given I have these species in my backyard, and we have have a local museum that does IDs etc if people bring them specimens…

If I give them a spider in a jar, possibly an egg sac chain, and take photos of the area I have found it in… is that what is useful? What’s the best way to go about it?

If I am going to destroy somebody’s home I want to make sure I don’t waste the effort.

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You need to ask the museum if they have an arachnologist on staff. Otherwise, your donation will collect metaphorical dust. Not everyone who does IDs is able/willing/interested in describing a new species.

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@thebeachcomber might know some Australian spider experts who would be happy to receive your specimens

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@donna165 I don’t know who the current arachnid curator at MAGNT in Darwin is (or whether there even currently is one, vs an inverts curator more broadly), so I would recommend reaching out to either Volker Framenau or Mark Harvey, both based in WA. They are both very active spider taxonomists and will be able to give you some info, or at least point you in the right direction.

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Ask your local museum for their preferred protocol? Do they have a staff member working on spiders ?

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you generally need adult male or female specimens for identification; their palps and epigyne should look well developed in adult. eggs are helpful but they alone arent and only as supporting evidence after the adult is Identified.
also avoid gravid females collection. ofc a good observation of multiple angle live pics, habitat, web if any, any behavioural notes are always helpful.

they can be placed in 95% ethanol small vial, fully submerged and marked with label of gps, date, habitat, collector name and any voucher code you want to add.

but yes, reach out to local taxonomists and museums for their preferences first before collection. Most importantly Australian Northern Territory requires legal permit for spider collection too I think and either you have to apply for that on your own or a taxonomist/museum can have permits and include you as volunteer in their list.

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