White-spotted Jumping Spider
Scientific Name: Phidippus audax
Order & Family: Order Araneae, Family Salticidae
Size: 6 to 13 mm (0.24 to 0.51 in) for males, 8 to 15 mm (0.31 to 0.59 in) for females.
Natural Habitat
Fields, grasslands, and gardens; often found on exterior walls or near window sills of residential buildings.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous; it hunts a wide variety of small insects and other spiders by pouncing on them.
Behavior Patterns
Diurnal hunters with excellent vision; they do not build webs to catch prey but use a dragline for safety when jumping.
Risks & Benefits
Beneficial as they control pest insect populations. While they can bite if handled roughly, the bite is generally harmless and comparable to a bee sting unless the person has an allergy.
Identified on: 2/5/2026