Phidippus octopunctatus
Encyclopedia
Phidippus octopunctatus is a jumping spider
that occurs in the USA and Mexico
, mostly in the Great Basin Desert
. It is among the largest jumping spiders found in North America, approaching 25 mm in body length. They are gray to brownish-gray in color.
Unlike Phidippus californicus
, which lives in the same habitat, it builds a large and prominent nest among the branches of a bush to house its egg cocoon.
Adult males, unmated adult and subadult females can be found in late August.
P. octopunctatus has been observed to hunt large prey, such as grasshoppers and bees.
Jumping spider
The jumping spider family contains more than 500 described genera and about 5,000 described species, making it the largest family of spiders with about 13% of all species. Jumping spiders have some of the best vision among invertebrates and use it in courtship, hunting and navigation...
that occurs in the USA and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, mostly in the Great Basin Desert
Great Basin Desert
The Great Basin Desert is an area of nearctic high deserts across parts of Nevada, California, and Utah that extends into the Colorado River watershed , but which is mostly a portion of the central Nevada desert basins of the Great Basin.It along with the Escalante Desert, Mohave Desert, the...
. It is among the largest jumping spiders found in North America, approaching 25 mm in body length. They are gray to brownish-gray in color.
Unlike Phidippus californicus
Phidippus californicus
Phidippus californicus is a species of jumping spider. It is found in the southwestern USA Phidippus californicus is a species of jumping spider. It is found in the southwestern USA Phidippus californicus is a species of jumping spider. It is found in the southwestern USA (Arizona, New Mexico,...
, which lives in the same habitat, it builds a large and prominent nest among the branches of a bush to house its egg cocoon.
Adult males, unmated adult and subadult females can be found in late August.
P. octopunctatus has been observed to hunt large prey, such as grasshoppers and bees.