The June Spider of the Month (SOTM) is this undescribed grass lynx spider (Oxyopes sp.; Oxyopidae), photographed by Rudi Steenkamp (me) in Bloemfontein.
While “grass lynx spider” is the most common name for Oxyopes spp., I have found this particular species only in soetdoring trees (Vachellia karroo) so far, strongly indicating that it is an arboreal species, and possibly one that prefers soetdoring trees. Therefore, I use the common name “soetdoring lynx spider”.
This is a juvenile spider, about 2-3 mm long (excluding legs). I found it while beating a soetdoring tree for the City Nature Challenge. I suspected that I would find one of these spiders, as I mostly do when I beat soetdoring trees at our house, but this time I found only this juvenile. I photographed it on the sweep net and then put it back in the soetdoring tree. An adult of this species won the January SOTM (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10162898387176584…), for which I wrote the following:
“According to most sources, Oxyopes means “sharp eyed”, from the Greek oxús (sharp) and ṓps (eye). Other sources say that it means “quick footed”, from the Greek oxys (quick) and pezos (on foot). Either way, they’re both sharp eyed and quick footed. They often spot a person from a distance, and then go hopping like crazy to escape the ‘threat’. If jumping spiders have the record for farthest jump, Oxyopes would probably have the record for highest jump. These spiders have two modes of defence: hop around like crazy, or freeze, with their front legs raised.
There are 286 recorded Oxyopes species in the world. South Africa has only three genera: the green lynx spiders (Peucetia spp.), the crowned lynx spiders (Hamataliwa spp.), and the grass lynx spiders (Oxyopes ssp.). The genus Oxyopes is in dire need of revision in South Africa. Most of our species were described by Swiss arachnologist Roger de Lessert about 100 years ago, and they have not been revised since. Currently, 26 species are known from South Africa, but I would not be surprised if we have more than 100 new or undescribed Oxyopes species.”
Of 160 people who voted, this photo received 90 votes (56%). I’m quite surprised by the outcome, considering the higher quality (and rarity) of other contenders. Lynx spiders are very cute, though, so I don’t blame the voters 
Also, the voter turnout was exceptionally low this month, given that the WhatsApp group alone has 182 members. Still, thank you to everyone who voted!