# Bold Jumping Spider (*Phidippus audax*) The Bold Jumping Spider is a small, colorful spider that loves to jump! It has big eyes and can leap many times its body length to catch its food or escape danger. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 227 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Bold Jumping Spider](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Kaldari_Phidippus_audax_01.jpg&width=800) Photo: Kaldari, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kaldari_Phidippus_audax_01.jpg) ## Appearance The Bold Jumping Spider has a fuzzy, jet-black body, often with a distinctive, triangular white or orange spot on its abdomen. Its large forward-facing eyes and iridescent green or blue chelicerae (mouthparts) make it visually striking and different from most dull-colored spiders. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Arachnida - **Order:** Araneae - **Family:** Salticidae - **Genus:** Phidippus ## Interesting facts - Despite being spiders, they are often curious and might turn to look right at you! - Male Bold Jumping Spiders perform a special dance to impress females! - These clever spiders can learn and remember where food and shelter are! - They don't build webs to catch food, but rather for sleeping and molting! ## Special abilities - **Super Sight:** Bold Jumping Spiders have eight eyes, including two huge ones, that help them see in almost 360 degrees and judge distances perfectly for hunting. - **Leaping Launch:** Bold Jumping Spiders can jump up to 50 times their body length by suddenly increasing blood pressure in their legs, helping them ambush prey. - **Safety Silk:** Bold Jumping Spiders spin a silk dragline as they move and jump, helping them secure themselves and quickly climb back up if they fall. ## Measurements & details - **Size:** 6-15 mm - **Lifespan:** 365-730 days - **Leg Count:** 8 ## Diet & Feeding Tiny hunters that pounce on small insects using their amazing eyesight and powerful jumps. - **Primary Foods:** flies, mosquitoes, small crickets, small moths, ants, other small spiders - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** House Fly (*Musca domestica*) — a common food source - **Eaten by:** [Eastern Bluebird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-bluebird) (*Sialia sialis*) — a tasty snack for birds - **Eaten by:** [European Mantis](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-mantis) (*Mantis religiosa*) — can fall prey to larger hunters - **Hunts:** Common Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — helps control mosquito populations ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a spider, it's best to observe from a distance and not touch it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Bold Jumping Spider? Compare body proportions, leg shape, abdomen markings and the web, if there is one. Eye arrangement can be decisive but rarely shows up in a casual phone photo. A web is a supporting clue, not proof of who built it. Spider Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How big is Bold Jumping Spider? 6-15 mm ### How long does Bold Jumping Spider live? 365-730 days ### What does Bold Jumping Spider eat? Tiny hunters that pounce on small insects using their amazing eyesight and powerful jumps. ### Where is Bold Jumping Spider usually found? Urban areas ### How does Bold Jumping Spider hunt? Ambush ### How many legs does Bold Jumping Spider have? 8 ## Where to spot - [Abbott Farm Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/abbott-farm-historic-district) — New Jersey, US · Historic District - [Ames Nowell State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ames-nowell-state-park) — Massachusetts, US · State Park - [Anderson Japanese Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-japanese-gardens) — Illinois, US · Botanical Garden - [Barrington Civic Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/barrington-civic-center-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Batesville East Main Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/batesville-east-main-historic-district) — Arkansas, US · Historic District - [Bellevue Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bellevue-avenue-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District [View all places to see Bold Jumping Spider](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/bold-jumping-spider) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Bold Jumping Spider: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bold-jumping-spider)