Phidippus audax
Jim Kalisch, UNL Entomology
The Daring Jumping Spider
is one of the most common spiders in our area. It gets its
name because of its amazing leaping ability. Male Daring Jumping
Spiders are between 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch long. Females are
slightly larger. This spider is black with
a gray or white crossband on its abdomens
(back body section) and several gray or white
spots. The Daring Jumping Spider
lives in woods, fields, or gardens. It is often seen on tree
trunks, fallen limbs, leaves, or other ground
litter. These spiders do not
build webs to catch prey.
Instead, they hunt their prey on foot. They do use silk to
make a small shelter under a leaf or bark. To catch prey, Daring
Jumping Spiders sneak up on it, then pounce. They can leap
great distances when you consider their size. These spiders eat all
sorts of insects, as well as other spiders. They do most of
their hunting during the day. Troy Bartlett, copyright
1998-2002 Daring Jumping Spiders
have some of the best vision of all spiders. They have eight
eyes. Four big eyes are located on the spider's face. The
other four are on top of the head. Female spiders use silk
to put eggs in. They usually stay in their silky leaf
shelter until the eggs have hatched and all the spiderlings
have left. Predators of Daring
Jumping Spiders include birds, shrews, lizards, and other
bug-eating creatures.
Jim Kalisch, UNL Entomology
Copyright, Paul D. Pratt
