Jumping Johnson Spiders (Phidippus johnsoni)

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My spiders Itsy and Bitsy on Flickr!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_green_thumb/sets/72157617479837509/

Phidippus johnsoni is a jumping spider who's coloration was made to mimic the stinging wasp called velvet ants so predators would think twice about trying to eat it.

Currently, I've gotten 3 egg sacs from these two combined and one I found has hatched yesterday. Yay! I thought the eggs might be sterile because it has been more than 2 weeks.

 

[ErikWestblom]

Those are awesome! I'm extremely jealous of your huge jumpers over there...

 

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Hehe!

Actually, I was VERY surprised when I found the first one, Itsy. Until I got her, I never would have imagined jumping spiders came in such sizes - least in California. Then I saw the audox pics online and was like WOAH!? I'm used to the little zebras or coppery-colored ones (Don't know actual name). When I found her, I fell in love with the jumpers all over again. Zebras were kind of hard to hang on to cause of their size. If fact, I still have a loose zebra female in the house somewhere.

 

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Slings

I just moved Bitsy's slings from the mother jar to a seperate jar. They have the nest they hatched from, aphids and sponge for water. They're moving a lot, but I can't be sure if their 1st instar or not, haven't seen them molt. They walk kind of slow and don't jump for now so it makes me think they haven't molted. Can't imagine them catching prey on their own at this point. Wish me luck as this is my first attempt at jumping spider breeding in a couple years. Hehe!