United States
£ GBP
Spiders are found everywhere in New Zealand, from bathroom to bush, beach and beyond, and although many people find them distasteful, they are valuable predators of pests and fascinating components of any ecosystem. This new guide introduces over 90 species, focusing on the more commonplace introduced spiders but also featuring some of New Zealand's rare native species. It gives details on their taxonomy, geographical origins, range and preferred habitat, plus special notes on behaviour, life cycle or diet. A handful of spiders are well known – the katipo for its feared bite, the elusive Nelson cave spider for its great size – but few have been much studied until recently. Respected arachnologist Cor Vink brings his scholarship and expertise to the text, while Bryce McQuillan's photography presents the spiders with extraordinary clarity and detail, making this an essential purchase for anyone with an interest in our eight-legged neighbours.
Arachnologist Cor Vink has a special interest in the systematics of New Zealand spiders, and he has also worked on spider ecology, biosecurity and biological control. He has produced over 50 scientific articles and in 2010 he co-authored an illustrated guide to the spider families of New Zealand. Cor works as a Curator of Natural History at Canterbury Museum.
Bryce McQuillan is a freelance wildlife photographer specialising in macro; spiders are his main passion. His work has been featured in magazines around the world, particularly New Zealand Geographic.
