Bug Identifier
Jumping Spider
Community identification

Jumping Spider

Phidippus audax (Bold Jumper)

Order & Family
Araneae, Salticidae
Size
13 to 20 mm (0.5 to 0.75 inches for females; males slightly smaller)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Open fields, gardens, and near human structures such as fences, walls, and inside homes.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivorous; feeds primarily on insects like flies, crickets, and moths, as well as other spiders.

Behavior Patterns

Active during the day (diurnal); known for their keen eyesight and ability to jump up to 50 times their body length to catch prey. They do not build webs for hunting but use silk for safety lines and egg sacs.

Risks & Benefits

Generally beneficial as natural pest control. They are shy and rarely bite humans unless provoked; if bitten, the reaction is typically mild like a bee sting.