Are these arachnids Australia's cutest spiders? Curtin University spider expert Leanda Mason reckons they might be.
The Christmas spider, or jewel spider, is endemic to Australia but in "prolific numbers" during summer in WA's south west.
The tiny creatures — known as Austracantha minax — are less than a centimetre in length.
Despite their tiny size, they are popular with spider spotters and the public for their striking colours and quirky shapes.
"I like the name jewel spider because it demonstrates how precious they are. They're very cute," Dr Mason said.
"They have very small eyes, clustered together ... they have little legs that curl underneath them.
"If disturbed, they'll run off and hide."
Why are they called Christmas spiders?
The spider is around all year but is most visible during warmer months when it is building webs and looking for a mate.
"A lot of spiders are highly seasonal," Dr Mason said.
"Most spiders roam during the cooler wetter months.
"Jewel spiders are around all the time, but you won't see them as much as they're spiderlings or juveniles in the wet months.
"When I was a child I thought, incorrectly, they were called Christmas spiders because they looked like decorations."
Walk through Western Australia's bush during Birak — the hot and dry season when the warm days are tempered by afternoon sea breezes — and it is hard to miss Christmas spiders.
Dr Mason says you can walk through countless webs and end up covered in the tiny creatures.
"They're usually at about head height. If you're walking through the bush you'll see them at head height between two branches to catch insects flying through," she said.
"They have big colonies and are semi-social. They'll use each other's webs sometimes to catch insects. They're very non-aggressive to other spiders and humans."
