Southern California Salticid

GQ.

Arachnodemon
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 12, 2002
Messages
767
I found a couple fairly large jumpers this weekend. They are by far the largest I have ever found around San Diego county. This is the first time I have found this species. Any ideas on species or genus of this spider?

Frontal view


Side View


With Finger for Size Reference


On cocoon
 

Tunedbeat

Arachnolord
Old Timer
Joined
Feb 4, 2007
Messages
656
She is too large to be a Habronattus specie.
My guess would be a Phidippus octopunctatus.
 

GQ.

Arachnodemon
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 12, 2002
Messages
767
Thank you padkinson and tunedbeat. Do either of you, or anyone else out there, know of a good jumping spider reference book?

Thanks.
 

cacoseraph

ArachnoGod
Old Timer
Joined
Jan 5, 2005
Messages
8,325
man i love southern CA!

isn't octop' one of the largest known phidippus species?
 

padkison

Arachnoangel
Old Timer
Joined
Dec 8, 2005
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901
The most definitive guide I know of is

"Revision of the Jumping Spiders of the Genus Phidippus" by GB Edwards

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

60 small color plates as well as a page on each species covering detailed range, habitat, color variations, several paragraphs of description in detail on how to ID each sex, B&W drawings of dorsal carapace body, ventral abdomen and sex organs.

For example, it tells me P. ostiosus is a forest canopy species, which explains why I've only found one, that being on my screen porch which is second story and right up against the trees and why I don't find them in the weedy and brushy fields like clarus and audux. The guide states that egg sacs are laid under loose bark, they mature in autumn and female ostiosus can overwinter. It also tells me the FL variety has more of a yellow color to it probably due to hybridization with P. regius.

I tend to use "Spiders of the Eastern United States : A Photographic Guide" by Howell & Jenkins for most spiders. This is a good field guide to the most common spiders east of the Mississippi. Course this doesn't do you much good in CA.

Thank you padkinson and tunedbeat. Do either of you, or anyone else out there, know of a good jumping spider reference book?

Thanks.
 

GQ.

Arachnodemon
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 12, 2002
Messages
767
Padkinson,

Thank you for the references. I am ordering "Revision of the Jumping Spiders of the Genus Phidippus" this week.
 

gunslinger

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Dec 6, 2006
Messages
356
Nice photos, GQ, I especially like the first two. The resolution on the sandy pebbly earth is very nice looking.
 
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