Common Sun Orchid

Thelymitra longifolia

This is the commonest sun orchid in the country, at least until the variable complex currently under one name gets split into several species. It is part of a sparse orchid flora of four species, all terrestrial, on Puangiangi and is quite plentiful there in open country and on disturbed ground trackside.

This species has only the one leaf.

Botanists Chris Horne and Barbara Mitcalfe listed only the one Thelymitra, of a few that might have been expected there, and it is a cheerful sight on a sunny day in Spring and Summer.

Flowers remain closed on dull days and can possibly set seed without ever opening.

(Part of an ongoing effort to photograph all the vascular plants on the island. Each species will get a page when I get enough reasonable photos.)

Crab Spiders

Family Thomisidae

These smaller spiders- about 10 mm- are said not to catch their prey with webs, but rather “sit and wait”. They did all seem to be associated with small, untidy webs though. Perhaps a bit of ambush and a bit of slowing down the prey with a rudimentary web too. Anyway, they were pretty successful, with nearly all the crab spiders I found this Spring having a larger animal they had caught and bound up somewhat with silk so they could eat it at leisure.

There are 30 or more crab spider species in New Zealand and some can change their colour depending on their surroundings. I think you will agree that some of these ones are well camouflaged against the leaf they are on. This all means that identification can’t really be taken further than Family level.

The spider below is guarding her egg sac closely: