Emerald Jumping Spider
Scientific Name: Paraphidippus aurantius (likely, given the green iridescent carapace and general appearance of a jumping spider)
Order & Family: Order Araneae, Family Salticidae
Size: Generally small, with body lengths ranging from 5 to 13 mm.
Natural Habitat
Typically found on plants, fences, walls, and other surfaces in gardens, parks, forests, and sometimes inside homes. They prefer sunny, open areas.
Diet & Feeding
Primarily carnivorous, feeding on various small insects and other invertebrates. They are generalist predators.
Behavior Patterns
Jumping spiders are active hunters during the day. They have excellent vision and stalk their prey before pouncing on them. Courtship rituals often involve complex dances by the male. They do not build webs for catching prey, but rather for shelter, molting, and egg-laying.
Risks & Benefits
Benefits include natural pest control due to their predatory nature on small insects. They pose very little risk to humans; their bites are rare and, if they occur, are usually no more severe than a mosquito bite, typically resulting in mild localized pain or itching.
Identified on: 8/29/2025