Phidippus Putnami Jumping Spiders

The Phidippus putnami jumping spider is a member of the family of jumping spiders. They are found in North America.

Phidippus putnami jumping spider: Identification.

The Phidippus putnami jumping spider comes in four basic colors (black, blue, white, and brown). Males may reach 1/3 of an inch in length, females 1/2.

This jumping spider appears to stand taller than any other species of jumping spider.

How Phidippus putnami jumping spiders hunt their prey.

Phidippus putnami jumping spiders hunt like humans. They use the spider version of the “still hunting.” Still hunting is used by bear hunters who continually move, stop, scan, and move again.

Phidippus putnami jumping spiders prefer to ambush their prey instead of running after them and chasing them down. To do this, jumping spiders are willing to take the less traveled road. They will take meandering routes climbing trees and branches and circling behind the vegetation, even to the point where they lose visual contact with their target.

Reproduction

Female Phidippus putnami jumping spiders lay eggs secured inside a sac made of thick silk. The female will protect this sac until a few days after the spiderlings have emerged and left to build their retreats.

Although they do not weave webs to trap prey, these creatures use their silk-spinning abilities to piece together foliage and build a haven (known as a “retreat”).

Is the P. putnami jumping spider dangerous?

The venom of these creatures is used to paralyze their prey yet poses no threat to humans; it is not strong enough to cause a fatality.

Predators of Phidippus putnami spiders.

Wasps are a constant threat. The Phidippus putnami is a non-mimetic jumping spider. Mimetic jumping spiders are rarely stung by wasps–the Phidippus putnami is readily stung by them.