🚨 ATHROPOD OF THE DAY 🚨

Phidippus audax, the bold jumper or bold jumping spider, is a common species of spider belonging to the genus Phidippus, a group of jumping spiders easily identified by their large eyes and their iridescent chelicerae. Like all jumping spiders, they have excellent stereoscopic vision that aids them in stalking prey and facilitates visual communication with potential mates during courting. Bold jumping spiders are native to North America and have been introduced to Hawaii, Nicobar Islands, Azores, and the Netherlands. They are typically black with a distinct white triangle on their abdomen.

On June 11 2021, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu signed the HB 318 bill designating Phidippus audax as the state spider. The designation came after a campaign by a class in Hollis, New Hampshire. Bold jumpers are currently very abundant and one of the most common spiders in the United States. As a major predator of crop pests, they have been studied to determine their impact on pest insect populations. In addition to eating pests, they also eat beneficial insects such as pollinators.