User:Shellypopshe/Phidippus audax

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Phidippus audax is a common jumping spider of North America. It is commonly referred to as the bold jumping spider or bold jumper. The spider belongs to the genus Phidippus, a group of jumping spiders easily identified both by their relatively large size and their iridescent chelicerae.

Like other jumping spiders, due to their large, forward-facing eyes, they have excellent stereoscopic vision. This aids them when stalking prey, and facilitates visual communication with potential mates during courting.

The bold jumping spider most often feeds on invertebrates such as grasshoppers, cockaroaches, dragonflies, cicadas, lacewings, etc. They hunt a diverse range of prey, from larvae to adult species.

Habitat
Like most jumping spiders, P. audax tends to prefer relatively open areas to hunt in, as they actively seek and stalk prey and do not build webs to catch food. However, they do use webbing when nursing eggs or sheltering. During the winter months, jumping spiders remain as subadults, and begin to develop into adults in early spring. Once summer begins, P. audax begins to mate and produce egg sacs. They also use spider silk as a tether when jumping for prey or evading predators. Jumping spiders prefer prey with high activity levels compared to prey with slower-activity levels. They are uniquely set apart from other spiders, in their ability to solely function off of dead prey through scavenging; however, this only occurs when prey becomes scarce. Unfortunately, if this diet is maintained for an extended period of time, jumping spiders will have shortened lifespans.

They are common in fields and grasslands, including prairies and shrublands, and are frequently seen on fences, exterior walls, row crops, and gardens as well. Many jumping spiders seem to prefer flat vertical surfaces, likely because it enables them to spot and chase down roaming insects with ease. On days with lower temperatures, P. audax has low activity and vice versa.