Jumping Spiders of Virginia
Jumping spiders are ambush predators who use their superior vision to hunt insects. As part of a backyard biodiversity project, I’ve been documenting our Virginia species. Jumping spiders sport telescopic eyes, create silken sleeping bags, and there's even research on the planning skills of certain species!
Bold jumping spider (Phidippus audax). Jumping spiders spin cozy silk sleeping bags for shelter. As the temperatures drop, they cinch them up and tuck themselves inside.
The elaborate architecture of this iris makes perfect hunting grounds for this juvenile peppered jumping spider (Pelegrina galathea) in our garden.
A jumping spider crawls across the three dimensional protrusions on a stem using tiny claw tufts beneath its legs.
I noticed this exquisite canopy jumping spider (Phidippus otiosus) dangling from the bathroom mirror lights. Look at those eyes ... a tiny creature assessing a giant.
This canopy jumping spider (Phidippus otiosus) was hanging upside down from a thread of silk a few inches below the ceiling in my home office.
Tan jumping spider (Platycryptus undatus) photographed against the backdrop of our kitchen bench.
A brilliant jumping spider (Phidippus clarus) perches on top of a fleabane flower in our backyard.
A juvenile jumping spider ambushes a crab spider at the center of a pink lady flower.
Putnam's jumping spider (Phidippus putnami)
A baby bold jumping spider (Phidippus audax) perches on the petal of a black-eyed susan.
White-jawed jumping spider (Hentzia mitrata) on a pink lady flower
Guided by eyes that appear like night vision goggles, a baby sylvan jumping spider (Colonus sylvanus) makes it way down the petal of a Black-eyed Susan.
Hentzia mitrata (white-jawed jumping spider) on the stamen of a painted lady flower.
Bronze jumping spider (Eric militaris) with silk line
A tiny jumping spider climbing on an anther
Only 4mm across! A white-cheeked jumping spider.
Having shed its old exoskeleton, including eye goggles, a bold jumping spider emerges with a new look
Tan jumping spider (Platycryptus undated) with prey
These are the same species - two variations of male dimorphic jumping spiders (Maevia inclemens)!
Despite their diminutive size, baby bold jumping spiders are efficient predators.
High eyelashed jumping spider (Phidippus mystaceus)
Red faced jumping spider (Habronattus coecatus) in our front garden.
Tan jumping spider (Platycryptus undatus)
Peppered jumping spider (Pelegrina galathea ) with missing legs (Singers Glen, VA)
Bold jumping spider (Phidippus audax)
Photographed inside of an iris: Juvenile peppered jumping spider with prey (Pelegrina galathea)
Putnam's jumping spider (Phidippus putnami) photographed on a car in Singer's Glen, VA.
A juvenile bold jumping spider (Phidippus audax). As it’s getting older, it's starting to lose its golden scales and is developing the iridescent jaws that are characteristic of adults.
A bronze jumping spider (Eris militaris) looks back at me from her perch on an apple in our kitchen. Bronze jumpers are very active and curious spiders. This one was forever jumping on my flash diffuser (after which I would gently brush her back onto the kitchen table).
I was entranced watching this minuscule baby jumping spider (Eris militaris I think) crafting silk bridges throughout the leaves and flowers lining Maggie’s Pond.