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.

Bold Jumping Spider

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