Recognizing the Good Bugs in Cotton - Texas Is Cotton Country ...

Jumping
Spiders
Family: Salticidae
Characteristics: Jumping spiders have compact,
rectangular bodies with short, powerful
legs. Their eyes are organized into three rows.
The front portion of their body is as large or
larger than the rear portion (abdomen). They
range in size from 1/8 to 1/2 inch. Color is
highly variable depending upon species. Some
species have bright iridescent scales that give
them a metallic green or purplish appearance.
A commonly seen species, Phidippus audax,
is a large, black and hairy spider with a large
white spot on its back. All jumping spiders
have large eyes that provide excellent eyesight
for visually locating and pursuing prey. True
to their name, they quickly jump when disturbed
or when attacking prey. Jumping spiders
are found throughout the Cotton Belt.
Prey: Jumping spiders feed on a wide variety
of pest insects and occasionally beneficial
insects. Adults can capture large caterpillars
and boll weevil adults and are important
predators of fleahoppers. Jumping spiders will
also feed on moth eggs.
General Biology: Jumping spiders have excellent
eyesight which they use to stalk and capture
their prey with a sudden pounce.
Females place their egg sacks inside nests of
silk and remain with them until the spiderlings
hatch and disperse. One generation is
completed each year.
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