Error message
Unable to fetch location details at this time.
Daring jumping spider
Phidippus audax
35.8987, -86.9624
Field Notes
Description:
The Daring Jumping Spider belongs to the genus Phidippus, a group of jumping spiders easily identified both by their relatively large size and their iridescent chelicerae. In the case of P. audax, these chelicerae are a bright, metallic green or blue.
These spiders have been known to jump up to 50 times their own body length by suddenly increasing the blood pressure in the third or fourth pair of legs and the male may jump away during mating if the female approaches too quickly.
Like other jumping spiders, due to their large, forward-facing eyes, they have very good stereoscopic vision. This aids them when stalking prey, and allows some visual communication with others of their species, such as courting 'dances'.
Notes:
This little guy lives between our mailbox & the post but is very camera shy! Today I managed to get this single shot of with his lunch (goldenrod soldier beetle) before he retreated back to the safety of his hiding place.
Comments (2)