QVMAG’s Simon Fearn discovers new species of Tasmanian wolf spider, named after Judy Rainbird

A Tasmanian museum collections officer light-trapping for moths and insects in the state’s North stumbled across a new species of wolf spider, which has been named after a renowned naturalist.

A newly discovered species of Tasmanian wolf spider, 'venator judyrainbirdae'. Picture: Alex Treacy

A Tasmanian museum collections officer has discovered a new species of wolf spider while light-trapping for moths and insects in the state’s North, naming the previously undescribed species after a renowned colleague of his.

Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery’s Simon Fearn said he was light-trapping at Beechford, near George Town, over the summer of 2022–23, when his head torch illuminated “the shine of spider eyes glittering on the ground beneath him”.

After closer inspection, Mr Fearn realised those shining eyes belonged to a species of wolf

spider; but a species he was not familiar with. Several were collected in case they were

something of interest.

QVMAG Natural Sciences Collections Officers JudyRainbird and Simon Fearn with a newly discovered species of Tasmanian wolf spider, 'venator judyrainbirdae'. Picture: Alex Treacy

Soon after contacting QVMAG Spider Honorary Research Associate John Douglas and Western Australian wolf spider expert Dr Volker Framenau, it was confirmed that what Mr Fearn had collected was an undescribed species.

While completing the process of creating a new record for this species in the Australian

Journal of Taxonomy, the trio agreed to name the newly discovered species in celebration of long-term QVMAG Natural Sciences Collection Officer, Judy Rainbird.

After having worked in the Natural Sciences department for 45 years, the venator

judyrainbirdae wolf spider will now remain a part of Tasmanian natural sciences history in celebration of the contribution Judy has made towards the QVMAG collection.

Mr Fearn said it was only fitting to acknowledge the positive impact Judy has had during her 45-year tenure working in the QVMAG collection.

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“The amazing state of the collections reflects her stewardship over the past four decades,

and this was a great way to acknowledge her significant contributions,” Mr Fearn said.

Mr Fearn said there had so far been about 330 species of spiders in Tasmania described, “but at the rate we are finding new ones, we reckon the total [number of species] is well over 1000”.

A newly discovered species of Tasmanian wolf spider, 'venator judyrainbirdae'. Picture: Alex Treacy

“We literally find dozens every single season. It’s so routine now to find new spiders that we don’t even talk about it ourselves anymore,” he said.

“The problem is that there are so few spider taxonomists, experts that can name them. There’s an enormous backlog [of possible new species waiting to be classified].”

Ms Rainbird said the naming of a new species after her was “so unexpected”.

“It was a complete surprise. I’m very honoured,” she said.

Originally published as QVMAG’s Simon Fearn discovers new species of Tasmanian wolf spider, named after Judy Rainbird