Jumping spider - Trite auricoma ( golden brown jumping spider) around 5mm size.

Jumping spider - Trite auricoma ( golden brown jumping spider) around 5mm size.

Trite auricoma, commonly known as the golden-brown jumping spider, is a small spider species native to New Zealand. While you mentioned a size of about 5 mm, adults usually grow to around 8.4 to 8.8 millimetres in body length.

The spider has a dark brown body with grey-brown and orange markings. Adult males have a bright yellow stripe just below their front eyes, almost like a little moustache, which females do not have.

Like other jumping spiders, Trite auricoma has excellent eyesight and hunts by stalking its prey quietly before leaping onto it from a short distance. It is found across New Zealand, often hiding under curled leaves of flax plants or among leaf litter on the ground.

These spiders are also quick learners. Young spiderlings have been seen trying a woodlouse once and then avoiding them afterwards, showing they can remember which prey is not worth eating.

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