Bold Jumping Spider
Scientific Name: Phidippus audax
Order & Family: Araneae, Salticidae
Size: Adults typically range from 6 to 15 mm (1/4 to 5/8 inch), with females usually larger than males.

Natural Habitat
Open areas such as grasslands, prairies, and open woodlands; frequently found around human structures like fences, exterior walls, and gardens.
Diet & Feeding
Strictly carnivorous; they primarily eat insects such as flies, moths, and beetles, as well as other spiders.
Behavior Patterns
Diurnal hunters with excellent vision that do not build webs to catch prey. Instead, they stalk and leap on targets. They use silk as a 'dragline' when jumping to ensure safety if they miss.
Risks & Benefits
Highly beneficial as natural pest control. They are generally harmless to humans; while they can bite if squeezed or threatened, their venom is not medically significant and typically results only in minor localized redness and swelling.
Identified on: 2/17/2026