Bold Jumping Spider
Phidippus audax
A compact black-and-white hunting spider with excellent vision, strong jumps, and metallic green or blue mouthparts.
Bold Jumping Spiders occur throughout Florida on plants, fences, walls, sheds, and garden structures. They hunt by sight instead of building a prey-catching web.
These spiders stalk flies, mosquitoes, small roaches, moths, and plant pests. Avoiding broad insecticide use allows them to provide natural pest control.
Habitat:
Grasslands and Agricultural Areas, Forests and Woodlands, Urban and Residential Areas
Area / Range:
Statewide
Diet:
Hunts flies, moths, beetles, mosquitoes, leafhoppers, small roaches, and other spiders.
Behavior:
Uses sharp vision to stalk prey, anchors a silk safety line, and jumps accurately. It may turn and watch a nearby person rather than flee immediately.
Daytime
Active Times:
Best time to see:
Sunny mornings and afternoons on walls, fences, broad leaves, and garden structures.
Florida Native Status:
Native
Conservation Status:
Not listed and widespread.
Safety Level:
Low
Safety Information:
Bites are uncommon and usually occur only when the spider is trapped against skin. Avoid squeezing or handling it.
Benefits to Property:
Provides natural control of flies, mosquitoes, moths, and many small landscape pests.
Property Concerns:
Creates small silk retreats in cracks or sheltered corners but causes no structural damage and does not make large capture webs.
Fun Fact:
- Its main eyes provide detailed vision.
- It uses silk as a safety line when jumping.
- Courtship includes visual movements and vibration.
Wildlife Laws:
No special Florida protection applies, but collection is restricted in many parks and protected areas. Avoid pesticide misuse and unauthorized collecting.
Identification:
Stocky, hairy jumping spider with large forward-facing eyes, black body, white spots or bands, and iridescent green or blue chelicerae. Young spiders may show orange abdominal spots.