In 2025, wildlife presenter Steve Backshall visited Joondalup teenager Michael Lun to see peacock spiders Lun had been photographing in his backyard. The encounter, reported by PerthNow on 12 January 2025, was part of Backshall’s Perth filming for Deadly 60—and a reminder that remarkable wildlife can turn up close to home.
What happened in the Joondalup backyard?
Lun, a nature photographer who began photographing peacock spiders in his backyard during the COVID lockdowns, was 17 when PerthNow reported on the visit. He showed Backshall the tiny spiders in Joondalup, a northern suburb of Perth. The report does not say which peacock spider species Lun found.
Backshall’s remarks, as reproduced by PerthNow and attributed there to him speaking to The Sunday Times, capture the appeal of the encounter: “The great joy of working with wildlife here in Australia is that you can journey into the outback — one of the last great wilderness areas on Earth — or you can train your eye in a suburban backyard, and you’re still bound to find something special.”
What are peacock spiders?
“Peacock spider” is a broad common name for small jumping spiders in the genus Maratus. The Western Australian Museum’s account is specifically about Maratus pavonis, the common peacock spider. It describes that species as a terrestrial invertebrate found across southern Australia, including Tasmania, in places such as bushland and domestic gardens. It moves among low shrubs and leaf litter, where its tiny size can make it difficult to notice.
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The museum gives maximum lengths for M. pavonis of 0.5 cm for females and 0.4 cm for males. Those measurements are for that species alone; they do not identify the spiders in Lun’s garden.
Why do peacock spiders dance?
In the common peacock spider’s courtship display, the male waves his third pair of legs and raises and expands his abdomen to attract a mate. The display makes the male’s colourful abdomen more conspicuous. PerthNow also reported that males produce vibrations and that a female may eat a male if courtship fails; those details were not described as events witnessed during Backshall’s visit.
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Backshall called the peacock spider “one of the nation’s most underrated and overlooked species,” adding that it is “in its own way as spectacular as any platypus or quokka.” PerthNow attributed those words to Backshall speaking to The Sunday Times.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which Deadly 60 episode features a peacock spider?
The BBC’s Deadly 60 page lists a Series 7 episode called “Peacock Jumping Spider,” set in downtown Perth. ABC iview also has a Deadly 60 programme page. These listings do not establish that the episode is currently available to stream in every region, so check the official BBC or ABC page for the catalogue in your location.
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