8 May 2025

The PhD student who has discovered 20 new spider species

From Nights, 10:45 pm on 8 May 2025

Spiders freak most people out. But not Kate Curtis.

Kate is a PhD student at Lincoln University and spiders, specifically native jumping spiders, are her passion.

Four years ago, Kate set out to learn more about these little-known arachnids and in the process has discovered twenty new species, including one which falls into a group of its very own.

She joins Emile Donovan.

Kate Curtis in the field

Kate Curtis in the field Photo: SUPPLIED/Bryce McQuillan Photography