The Red Back Jumping Spider (Phidippus johnsoni)

If you’re looking for a spider that’s both beautiful and deadly, look no further than the red back jumping spider. This tiny arachnid is native to North America, where it preys on a variety of small insects. But be careful if you encounter one of these spiders – they’re also known to bite humans if they feel threatened!

 

Introduction

The Red Back Jumping Spideris a small to medium-sized spider, with a body length of up to 15 mm (0.59 in). It is black with a red or orange spot on its abdomen, and often has red “fangs” at the base of its chelicerae. The top front part of the cephalothorax is covered in short hairs, giving it a “velvet” appearance. It can be found in gardens, woodlands and fields throughout North America.

 

Physical characteristics

The red-backed jumping spider is a small to medium-sized spider, with a body length (excluding legs) of 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in). The carapace, chelicerae (fangs), and the first two pairs of legs are black, while the remaining parts of the legs and the abdomen are red. As with other members of the family Salticidae, red-backed jumping spiders have excellent vision, being able to see in full color and at great distances. They are diurnal hunters, stalking and leaping upon their prey.

 

Diet and hunting

The red back jumping spider feeds on a variety of small insects and other spiders. To capture its prey, it uses its powerful vision and quick movements to ambush and pounce on its victim. Once the prey is within range, the red back jumping spider will jump onto it and deliver a lethal bite with its fangs.

This spider is an active hunter, and it doesn’t build webs to catch prey. Instead, this spider relies on its excellent eyesight and quick reflexes to make successful attacks. When stalking prey, the red back jumping spider will move slowly and carefully until it’s within range. Then, it will make a sudden jump to close the distance and deliver a venomous bite with its fangs.

 

Web spinning

The red back jumping spider (Phidippus johnsoni) is a species of spider in the family Salticidae. It is found in North America.

These spiders are notable for their red and black markings and their habit of “jumping” when they move. They are common in gardens and yards and can be found on trees, shrubs, and fences.

The red back jumping spider is a hunter, and does not spin webs to catch prey. Instead, it stalks its victims and then jumps on them to bite them. The venom of this spider is not harmful to humans, but it can be painful.

 

Life cycle

The Redback Jumping Spider has a lifespan of about two years. Females produce several egg sacs throughout their lifetime, each containing around 40 eggs. After about two weeks, the eggs hatch and the spiderlings climb up their mother’s legs to her back, where they spend the next few weeks. During this time, the spiderlings molt ( shed their skin) several times. Once they leave their mother’s back, they are on their own.

 

Behaviour

The red back jumping spider is a diurnal spider, meaning that it is active during the day. It is also an opportunistic hunter, meaning that it will attack and kill any prey that it thinks it can subdue. The red back jumping spider is not aggressive towards humans and will usually only bite if it feels threatened.

The red back jumping spider gets its name from the distinctive red markings on its abdomen. These spiders are found across North America, and they are common in urban areas. They are attracted to areas with lots of insects, and they are often found in gardens and parks.

The red back jumping spider is a relatively small spider, with adults ranging in size from 5 to 10 mm. The males are generally smaller than the females. The front pair of legs is significantly longer than the other legs, and this gives the spider a very distinctive look. The spiders are also known for their large eyes, which allow them to see prey from a distance.

The red back jumping spider feeds mainly on small insects, such as flies, mosquitoes, and moths. However, these spiders have also been known to eat larger prey items, such as lizards and birds. The spiders use their long front legs to pounce on their prey, and they will then inject venom into the victim using their fangs. The venom immobilizes the prey item so that the spider can eat it at its leisure.

 

Habitat

Redbacks are found in North America west of the Rocky Mountains, and measure about 1/2 to 3/4 inches long. They are common in gardens, on porches and decks, and in other human-inhabited areas. Outdoors, they build their webs under rocks, in woodpiles, and in other protected places. Indoors, they may weave their webs anywhere that is undisturbed and offers them a good vantage point from which to attack their prey.

 

Distribution

The red-back jumping spider is found across the United States, southern Canada, and northern Mexico.

 

Conservation

The Red-back Jumping Spider is common throughout much of the United States. It prefers dry, open habitats such as fields, deserts, and gardens and is often found on or near buildings. The Red-back Jumping Spider is not considered endangered or threatened, and is not known to be of concern to conservation groups.

 

Interesting facts

-The red back jumping spider is a species of spiders in the Salticidae family.
-These spiders are found in North America, specifically in the western United States.
-Red back jumping spiders get their name from the reddish coloration on their abdomen.
-These spiders are known for their ability to jump long distances, and they are also very agile.
-Red back jumping spiders are also known for being quite aggressive, and they will often attack larger prey items.

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