Bold Jumper Spider On A Cattail

Earlier this week, while I was out walking around my local pond, a small dark dot on a cattail caught my eye. That ‘dot’ was a Bold Jumper Spider.

Bold Jumper Spider on a cattail in the fall – Nikon D500, f8, 1/1000, ISO 640, Nikkor 70-300mm VR at 300mm, natural light

On my morning walk that day, I had probably seen close to a thousand cattails by that time, but this one stood out because of the tiny dark spider. I’m glad I had my Nikon D500 with me that morning, with the 70-300mm lens attached, that I like to use when I know I’ll be going for a walk.

The problem was that I couldn’t get as close to the spider as I would have liked because this cattail was located away from the shore of the pond.

Information on Bold Jumper Spiders:

This spider species, Phidippus audax, is also known as the Bold Jumping Spider or Daring Jumping Spider, and I have to say that I adore them. I’ve been a roommate to several of these cuties.

Bold Jumper Spiders in the wild, mainly feed on small insects such as flies, moths, gnats, and mosquitoes, and they locate and catch their prey using their excellent vision and quick reflexes. During the summer months, these spiders are most active and can commonly be seen in gardens and wooded areas.

In the winter, juvenile Bold Jumper Spiders become more inactive and take shelter in tree crevices and other dark, sheltered places to reduce the risk of predation and ensure survival through the cold months of the year.

My research about Bold Jumper Spiders shows that they are cold-blooded creatures who enter a diapause phase during the winter, which is a bit like hibernation. Spiders produce a chemical called polyhydroxy alcohol when they sense the change in the weather, which is their bodies’ antifreeze. It will build up to protect the spider from the cold and then go away once warmer temperatures set in.

In captivity Bold Jumper Spiders can live to be three years old. Female jumping spiders tend to live longer than males.

I found a terrific video on YouTube about jumping spiders that might help people with a fear of spiders. I know I enjoyed watching the video about the creation of Lucas the Spider. Lucas the Spider has his own YouTube channel. He is freaking adorable.

Back to this Bold Jumper Spider:

I got just as excited about finding and photographing this spider as any of my feathered or furry subjects. Today, I might even go back to the pond to see if I can relocate him to take more photos. I also keep hoping I’ll find another one at home. As housemates, they can be very entertaining.

Life is good.

Mia

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