Where To Find Phidippus Audax In Texas?

Nicole C G

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Okay, so I keep a list of every jumping spider species I find, and I’m trying to find as many as possible. So far I have found 19 species and yet, in my months of searching, I haven’t found what iNaturalist says to be the most common jumping spider in Texas. Phidippus audax. Have I been looking in the wrong places? Where do they usually go about their day? Any tips on finding one?
 

Jonathan6303

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Okay, so I keep a list of every jumping spider species I find, and I’m trying to find as many as possible. So far I have found 19 species and yet, in my months of searching, I haven’t found what iNaturalist says to be the most common jumping spider in Texas. Phidippus audax. Have I been looking in the wrong places? Where do they usually go about their day? Any tips on finding one?
Look in really dark places. They make 1 inch sacs that are thick. Look for crevices. They like tight places. Cracks and so on.
 

Poonjab

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Sides of houses next to bushes and wood piles are the most common places you’ll find them
 

SkittlesTheJumpingSpider

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I found my jumping spider on a tomato plant... But I usually see jumping spiders in small crevices. I'm not sure if the jumping spiders were Phidippus audax, but I know from experience that jumping spiders can be hard to find...

Good luck!
 

AphonopelmaTX

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I found my jumping spider on a tomato plant... But I usually see jumping spiders in small crevices. I'm not sure if the jumping spiders were Phidippus audax, but I know from experience that jumping spiders can be hard to find...

Good luck!
When you see P. audax, you will know it. Unless you are in the south-southeast region of the USA, then you won't be able to tell P. audax from P. regalis without a more careful examination.

Here is a picture of a P. audax a friend of mine found on a jungle gym in a park somewhere in the Dallas area during the day.

Lin_Audax_Crop.jpg
 

Jonathan6303

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When you see P. audax, you will know it. Unless you are in the south-southeast region of the USA, then you won't be able to tell P. audax from P. regalis without a more careful examination.

Here is a picture of a P. audax a friend of mine found on a jungle gym in a park somewhere in the Dallas area during the day.

View attachment 402633
Cute little guy
 

Nicole C G

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Regius isn’t in my area, luckily that means I can obviously tell what it is. (Not that I wouldn’t love to see Phidippus regius. Either would be a welcome edition to my list)
 

RL7836

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In early October, I was searching for P. cardinalis around a local airport (had been reported there previously). There was a chain link fence around the entire airport. Over 90% of the posts had a P. audax sitting in their little 'web-pocket' (where the horizontal bar intersects with the vertical post). As the day warmed up, some came out of their pocket and were hunting nearby. In our area, adults will normally be found in spring (peak in May).

Best of luck with your quest.
 
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Nicole C G

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The jumping spiders I find are 90% of the time on this long metal fence in my backyard. Though they just get stuck there while ballooning and stay there a while. Nobody lives there. And maybe Audax in my area are out of season, I have found one sling that resembles Phidippus audax (could be something else), so maybe the slings will be adults next year and I’ll find some then?
 

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Jonathan6303

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I didn’t know it was so hard to find p audax down south. In ny, I find at least one adult p audax every year and that’s only searching my house.
 

RL7836

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The jumping spiders I find are 90% of the time on this long metal fence in my backyard. Though they just get stuck there while ballooning and stay there a while. Nobody lives there.
Fences often have good micro-habitats for hiding places but the area the fence is in is also very important (ie: overgrown old field is infinitely better than lawn).

And maybe Audax in my area are out of season, I have found one sling that resembles Phidippus audax (could be something else), so maybe the slings will be adults next year and I’ll find some then?
I know there are variations depending on region but it seems unlikely that they would be slings now. Here, they are 1-2 molts from adulthood. Here's one I borrowed from our mailbox for some pics a few weeks ago (3 pics on iNat).
 

Nicole C G

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I didn’t know it was so hard to find p audax down south. In ny, I find at least one adult p audax every year and that’s only searching my house.
They aren’t. That’s what confuses me. On iNat there are multiple observations of them every single day here in Texas, in areas close to me
 

Nicole C G

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I’ve searched my entire back yard, side yard, and front yard. Nothing. :(
 

RL7836

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I’ve searched my entire back yard, side yard, and front yard. Nothing. :(
Salticids are not necessarily evenly distributed, so, even though others are finding P. audax nearby, that doesn't mean you'll find some around your house. Time to expand your horizons. Find an overgrown field...
 

Nicole C G

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Salticids are not necessarily evenly distributed, so, even though others are finding P. audax nearby, that doesn't mean you'll find some around your house. Time to expand your horizons. Find an overgrown field...
Can do. Figure maybe they just aren’t at my house.
 

CRX

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Can do. Figure maybe they just aren’t at my house.
Look in an area no one else would look in. Like, the overgrown sideyard of a store, or an alleyway bordering some overgrowth. P audax likes "desolate" areas overgrown with not much activity.
 

Nicole C G

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Look in an area no one else would look in. Like, the overgrown sideyard of a store, or an alleyway bordering some overgrowth. P audax likes "desolate" areas overgrown with not much activity.
Thanks!


I found some a little while ago too
 

Backcountry critters

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Thanks!


I found some a little while ago too
It seems diligence is key. I looked quite a bit here in NY before started a thread asking how to find Audax here. I feel always having a container of sorts to capture is the most important because the first one I caught was while actively searching, but I still only barely caught the sight of it and had to double back. It is crazy how many other species I had found in great numbers while searching my house and overgrown weed lines before my girlfriend even spotted the second audax I caught. Still searching other properties as I work and haven't seen another haha. I think also adult audax by now have mated and either hard to see slings are about and maybe later this year might see some more larger ones
 

gigglesspideyhaven

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Congrats on finding some! I’m in Central Arkansas and I find Audax slings on my grandkids swingset daily. They range in size from as small as a flea to as big as a small beetle. I’d say I2 to I4. It’s amazing how many are out there. Haven’t seen mom or dad though.
I’ve found tans, dimorphics, ribbon jumpers, and habronattus in addition to the audax but that’s all so far.
 
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