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| Bold Jumping Spider, Phidippus audax |
Jumping Spiders, sometimes called salties, belong to the family
Salticidae. With large
anterior median eyes, the spiders have excellent color vision, especially in the
green and ultraviolet range, and a high degree of resolution. The typical arrangement of the eyes also suggest
telephoto vision. Of the eye arrangement, only the
principle eyes contain a movable retina. This is important in allowing the spiders to
distinguish between potential prey and potential mates for at least a distance of ten body lengths.
The bold jumping spider occurs throughout much of North America from Canada to Mexico, east to Florida. The iridescent green
chelicerae and spotted abdomen help distinguish this species. As with many salties, this species is an active hunter feeding on a variety of insects and other spiders. They are common with breeding occurring into late spring, and eggs being laid over the summer. Juveniles will seek out refuge when temperatures drop and go dormant for the winter.
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