Fauna
Arachnid

Bold Jumping Spider

Phidippus audax

Also known as Bold Jumper, Daring Jumping Spider, Audacious Jumping Spider

Bold jumping spiders are agile, opportunistic hunters renowned for their brilliant iridescent green or blue chelicerae and inquisitive visual behavior. Using four large front eyes for stereo vision, they stalk prey across sunny surfaces and leap up to fifty times their body length without relying on capture webs. During mating season, males execute energetic courtship dances featuring leg-waving and abdominal vibrations to win over females.

Agile HunterDiurnalIridescent
Bold Jumping Spider reference1 / 7
(c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Katja Schulz · cc-by
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyFlies, Caterpillars, Moths
Predators
  • Birds
  • Lizards
  • Mud dauber wasps
ThreatsBroad-spectrum insecticides and habitat destruction
HabitatsOpen fields, woodlands, grasslands, suburban gardens, and building walls
Life span1–2 years
Classification
  1. OrderAraneae
  2. FamilySalticidae
  3. GenusPhidippus
  4. SpeciesPhidippus audax
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Bites are rare and mild, occurring only when crushed; safe to observe closely.
Responsible observation
  • Close Observation: Hold still and allow the spider to pivot its large central eyes toward your camera or finger.
  • Handling Precautions: Avoid trapping or squeezing the body, as defensive bites only occur under direct physical pressure.
  • Garden Habitat: Leave outdoor walls, fence posts, and foliage intact where these spiders hunt garden pests.
Related species
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