Oklahoma’s Most Common Spider 

Oklahoma is home to a great many things. The legendary Garth Brooks, the geographical wonder of Little Sahara, and a weather pattern described as unpredictable are just a few things this state has to offer. However, there is another thing that Oklahoma has to offer that most people do not care for.

Meet the Bold Jumping Spider!

More formally known as Phidippus Audax, this little spider is everywhere. If you have spent enough time here in this Sooner state, I am sure you have encountered the furry little guy or its pesky web strands hanging wherever they can. Maybe you just didn't know what it was.

This article will inform you of all the essential details about the Jumping Spider. After reading this, you should be able to go out and find this spider quite easily.

Jumping Spider

What Does the Bold Jumping Spider Look Like?

The Bold Jumping Spider has a distinct appearance that should allow you to identify them at a glance. The most distinctive feature of this spider is its eight eyes. The two forward-facing eyes would be looking right back at you if you were staring at them. These are formally known as the anterior median eyes.

The other six eyes are located around the large eyes, two directly beside them and the other four around these. The Bold Jumping Spider needs these strategically placed eyes for hunting and reproduction purposes. These eyes give the jumping spider excellent, near binocular vision.

The body of the jumping spider could be compared to that of a middle-aged dad's body. Round and hairy. The markings are distinctive as well. Their bodies are black with little white hairs. On the abdomen of most of these little critters is a white, triangular marking. Sometimes the marking is orange in adolescent spiders, and there are often slight variations in the marking pattern. Their legs are also hairy with white striped markings on them.

These little spiders are smaller than a dime! Females grow larger than males, with a length of 8 to 15 mm instead of 6 to 13 mm. Their strong hind legs propel them to incredible leaps of approximately 50 times their body length! That would be like a 6-foot adult jumping 300 feet or the length of a football field!

Where Does the Bold Jumping Spider Live?

If you go out and hunt down these tiny spiders, you will need to know where to look to find their little dwellings. The Bold Jumping Spider likes to live in grasslands, fields, and prairies. It makes perfect sense why they chose Oklahoma as a suitable home. Oklahoma's main scenery is grassland and prairie, especially in the state's western half. They also like to take up residence in your backyard and garden.

When they are not actively hunting, they can be found in small cocoon-like nests. They will be chilling, enjoying rest, or protecting their eggs in these little nests. These spiders were not commonly found in the arid southwest before modern settlement. However, the expansion of civilization brought them to this region.

Jumping spider on a leaf

What Does the Bold Jumping Spider Eat?

The Bold Jumping Spider is a predator species. They have been observed feeding on many insects and even a few other spiders. Among the various bugs they eat, they like boll weevils, caterpillars, bollworms, and hobo spiders. They are not picky and will feed on any insect or spider smaller than them.

These spiders hunt during the day. They do not use webs to catch their prey, which is too easy. The Bold Jumping spider will use a single web "tether" when they are jumping around and looking for food. They will attach the tether before they jump, just in case they do not quite make it. Pretty smart for a spider!

They are true hunters who rely on their keen eyesight and incredible jumping prowess to locate and attack their prey. They use their big eyes like binoculars to find the food source. The other eyes give them a 360-degree view, so they do not miss out on a single meal. Once located, the meal is pounced on, grabbed, bitten, and consumed.

How Does the Bold Jumping Spider Reproduce?

It all starts with a boy who likes a girl. The male will do a little mating dance to try and entice the female of his dreams. This will look like the male lifting specific legs to display the markings on his abdomen. If the female likes what she sees, then they will mate. However, if she approaches too quickly, the male will get scared and jump away from her.

This spider species will most likely mate in late spring or early summer. Once they have coupled, the female will begin producing multiple egg sacs throughout the summer. These egg sacs can contain a lot of eggs, ranging from 30 to 170 eggs. These egg "clutches" tend to get smaller as the summer goes on, but each female can produce as many as six clutches per summer.

You can expect each female to produce an average of 200 offspring per mating season. This number can get as high as 600 or as low as 30.

Is the Bold Jumping Spider Dangerous?

The Bold Jumping Spider is venomous. Although, you should not expect to have any severe reactions to a bite. Their venom is used for feeding purposes and will have little to no impact on humans. The bites are typically asymptomatic and only give you slight pain. You might notice tiny bumps or rashes around the bite; however, this should not alarm you unless they get severe or do not go away.

The Bold Jumping Spider will not seek out a human and intentionally bite them. They will only bite as a self-defense act. So that means you can prevent these bites by simply leaving them alone, or at the very least not touching them.

Why Are Bold Jumping Spiders Beneficial?

The Bold Jumping Spider has not been observed to have any direct benefits to civilizations. However, their main contribution is an indirect one. The insects they like to prey on are the very same insects that attack our crops, plants, and other vegetation. Therefore, these little hairy devils are like your friendly garden-hood Spiderman. They may get a bad reputation as vigilantes, but they are only here to help us.

It is clear that these little jumpers are not out to harm us and even provide us with protection against pests. Now that you know everything you need to know about them, you can go outside and find one for yourself. Do not terminate it, though. Otherwise, your garden or flower bed will pay the price.

Jumping spider on a leaf

Dealing with a Different Spider Species?

Not all spiders and bugs are as harmless as the Bold Jumping Spider. Emtec Pest Control has been in business for over 40 years, ensuring its customers are safe from harmful spiders, including brown recluses and black widows. If you see either of these dangerous species around your home or business, give us a call; we would be happy to help remove them!

We are committed to safe and responsible pest control at Emtec Pest Control. We understand that your family’s safety is your number one priority, so we make it our priority. If you have any other questions about spider or spider control for your home or business, contact your Oklahoma pest control experts at Emtec Pest Control by calling or filling out our online contact form.

At Emtec Pest Control, we are committed to safe and responsible pest control. We understand that your family’s safety is your number one priority, so we make it our priority, too.

If you have any other questions about any of these pests or pest control for your home or business, contact your Oklahoma pest control experts at Emtec Pest Control by calling us or by filling out our online contact form.

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