Opportunistic Phidippus audax

[patrickfraser]

I have a screen cage with BB's outside for egg laying and gearing up for another batch of BB's. It brings wild flies that try to get at the medium i provide, but they can't enter into the net cage. Today I caught a little jumping spider taking advantage of the free flies. I was gonna catch it, but thought I'd leave it to nature. Happy feeding, little guy. :lol:

 

[Mime454]

They're so cute.

 

[aNisip]

likebugs has a female of this specie and she is looking for a male... this could be her opportunity!

 

[Malakyoma]

Now you can hope that the extra flies attract mantid attention and get you some new wild ones

 

[patrickfraser]

likebugs has a female of this specie and she is looking for a male... this could be her opportunity!

Maybe I should catch it. :lol:

Now you can hope that the extra flies attract mantid attention and get you some new wild ones

I have only caught one wild mantid around my house and that was years ago. I wish i had some to enjoy in their natural environment. I bought some chinese ootheca 2 years ago and put them in bushes around the neighborhood, but I still have yet to see any.

 

[lancaster1313]

likebugs has a female of this specie and she is looking for a male... this could be her opportunity!

Mine is a Phidippus regius. The Bold jumper is so cute though!

 

[aNisip]

Mine is a Phidippus regius. The Bold jumper is so cute though!

dang... lol i forgot, I was close though

 

[lancaster1313]

My Princess!

 

[patrickfraser]

Oh, she's a cutie. I love the lighter color.

They do love their BB's, don't they?

 

[D_Hemptress]

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My Princess!

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she is much cuter

 

[lancaster1313]

Scott, I have reached my quota of positive votes for the day, so I tried to like your last post.

They certainly do love their BBs!

 

[lancaster1313]

she is much cuter

The males of Phidippus regius look almost identical to Phidippus audax. Black with white tufts of hair, sometimes orange coloring especially when young. My princess is actually black but she is hairy.

 

[Mime454]

That is the cutest thing I've seen today, like bugs. I'm going to have to go looking for those.

 

[lancaster1313]

That is the cutest thing I've seen today, like bugs. I'm going to have to go looking for those.

They are kind of southeastern, but good luck! There are a few different lovely Phidippus species to be found. I really enjoyed a Phidippus mystaceus female that lived free roaming in our tent while I camped, she was so awesome I brought her home. I think that you may be able to find one in your area. Look up the photos, they are beautiful spiders.

 

[ScienceGirl]

Awwwn! A potential pet?

 

[hierodula]

Where do you guys find these??? i would buy one if i could. Theyre so cool!

 

[sally]

It looks like she has a cute little monkey face but that isn't her face .... Hmmmm ? But wait those are her eyes soooo it is her face ? Anyway too cute.

 

[lancaster1313]

I find the spiders in the same types of places that I hunt for mantids. Open, brushy, weedy areas. Although, many people find them on walls of buildings. I found a very cool male on the plastic slide of a playground once. Too bad that was before i was interested in collecting them. I did let him jump on my hands.

They are very interactive, but can be skittish pets. Some seem more aware of us than others. Princess is on the, try to get away from the "monster", side. Me being the "monster". That is how I feel when my small creatures are wary of me. I have to be sure that my movements are just right so I don't frighten them.

 

[lancaster1313]

It looks like she has a cute little monkey face but that isn't her face .... Hmmmm ? But wait those are her eyes soooo it is her face ? Anyway too cute.

In person, you will know which end is the face when they look right at you. Like a high strung mantis. They well scoot around and keep their eyes on you if you move around, tapping their palps up and down.