Assessing the impact of fire on spiders through a global comparative analysis.

In many regions fire regimes are changing due to anthropogenic factors. Understanding the responses of species to fire can help to develop predictive models and inform fire management decisions. Spiders are a diverse and ubiquitous group and can offer important insights into the impacts of fire on invertebrates and whether these depend on environmental factors, phylogenetic history or functional traits.

Seven new species of Australian peacock spiders (Araneae: Salticidae: Euophryini: Maratus Karsch, 1878).

Seven new species of the Australian peacock spider genus Maratus Karsch, 1878 are described from Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia: Maratus azureus sp. nov., Maratus constellatus sp.

Three new peacock spiders from Southwestern Australia (Araneae: Salticidae: Euophryini: Maratus Karsch, 1878).

Three new species of the peacock spider genus Maratus Karsch, 1878 are described from the vicinity of Lake Jasper and Mount Romance in the Southwestern Australia ecoregion: M. aquilus sp. nov.

Utilizing ticks as forensic indicators in a livestock investigation.

Although forensic parasitology remains in its infancy compared with more developed fields like forensic entomology, parasites can be useful forensic indicators. We present the case of an individual who disobeyed animal health legislation and crossed animal quarantine boundaries and two state lines with a cattle tick (Rhipicephalus australis) infested horse. Following recognition of the infestation by animal health officers, the individual asserted that the infestation had occurred either during transport or upon arrival at the site of discovery, and that they had not contravened quarantine legislation.