Bold jumper (Phidippus audax)

Not in any medically significant way. Like almost all spiders the bold jumper (family Salticidae) has venom for its prey, but it is not a widow or recluse, the two U.S. groups whose bites need medical attention.

Records are spread over 48 states; the top three, California, Texas and Colorado, hold 45% of them. It is the most recorded spider of all in California, Colorado, Oklahoma, New York, Utah, Kansas, Iowa, Kentucky and Idaho.

Across the U.S., observation records of the bold jumper run mostly March through October, peaking in May with 16% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 4% of them.

Observation records run through most of the year in Florida. Among states whose main season falls within one calendar year, it starts earliest in February (Washington) and latest in May (Iowa, Minnesota, West Virginia and Wisconsin). The most common peak month is September, shared by Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska and 5 more.

California holds 2,606 licensed records, the most recorded of 309 spiders listed there. Its observation records in California run mostly March through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Solano County, Los Angeles County and Santa Clara County. Next come Sacramento County (47) and Orange County (42).

Texas holds 1,454 licensed records, the 2nd most recorded of 386 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Texas run mostly March through November, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Hidalgo County, Dallas County and Travis County. Next come Tarrant County (62) and Harris County (61).

Colorado holds 681 licensed records, the most recorded of 378 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Colorado run mostly April through October, peaking in August; most licensed records come from El Paso County, Larimer County and Boulder County. Next come Denver County (75) and Jefferson County (41).

Oklahoma holds 511 licensed records, the most recorded of 149 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Oklahoma run mostly April through November, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Tulsa County, Cleveland County and Osage County. Next come Woodward County (56) and Oklahoma County (47).

New York holds 374 licensed records, the most recorded of 149 spiders listed there. Its observation records in New York run mostly March through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Tompkins County, Westchester County and Erie County. Next come Onondaga County (30) and Nassau County (26).

Pennsylvania holds 370 licensed records, the 2nd most recorded of 164 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Pennsylvania run mostly April through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Allegheny County, Montgomery County and Philadelphia County. Next come Bucks County (26) and Lancaster County (16).

Virginia holds 370 licensed records, the 7th most recorded of 176 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Virginia run mostly April through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Prince William County and Norfolk. Next come Arlington County (15) and Henrico County (14).

Ohio holds 359 licensed records, the 2nd most recorded of 332 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Ohio run mostly April through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Franklin County, Cuyahoga County and Erie County. Next come Montgomery County (24) and Summit County (22).

Illinois holds 344 licensed records, the 2nd most recorded of 243 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Illinois run mostly April through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Champaign County, Cook County and DuPage County. Next come Will County (12) and Madison County (12).

Oregon holds 274 licensed records, the 2nd most recorded of 88 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Oregon run mostly March through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Multnomah County, Lane County and Washington County. Next come Benton County (23) and Jackson County (10).

Maryland holds 273 licensed records, the 2nd most recorded of 153 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Maryland run mostly March through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Frederick County, Montgomery County and Prince George's County. Next come Baltimore County (37) and Howard County (28).

Utah holds 204 licensed records, the most recorded of 97 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Utah run mostly April through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Salt Lake County, Utah County and Davis County. Next come Cache County (7) and Weber County (6).

Massachusetts holds 192 licensed records, the 4th most recorded of 189 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Massachusetts run mostly April through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Middlesex County, Essex County and Norfolk County. Next come Worcester County (15) and Barnstable County (13).

Minnesota holds 183 licensed records, the 2nd most recorded of 145 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Minnesota run mostly May through October, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Ramsey County, Hennepin County and Stevens County. Next come Anoka County (11) and Dakota County (4).

Indiana holds 182 licensed records, the 2nd most recorded of 133 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Indiana run mostly April through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Huntington County, Tippecanoe County and Marion County. Next come Lake County (13) and Monroe County (11).

Missouri holds 167 licensed records, the 2nd most recorded of 117 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Missouri run mostly April through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Texas County, St. Louis County and Johnson County. Next come Boone County (13) and DeKalb County (9).

Michigan holds 151 licensed records, the 2nd most recorded of 122 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Michigan run mostly April through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Washtenaw County, Ingham County and Kalamazoo County. Next come Oakland County (12) and Allegan County (10).

Delaware holds 140 licensed records, the 2nd most recorded of 71 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Delaware run mostly April through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Sussex County, Kent County and New Castle County.

New Jersey holds 122 licensed records, the 2nd most recorded of 127 spiders listed there. Its observation records in New Jersey run mostly March through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Burlington County, Cape May County and Mercer County. Next come Middlesex County (9) and Salem County (9).

Tennessee holds 119 licensed records, the 3rd most recorded of 138 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Tennessee run mostly March through November, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Williamson County, Shelby County and Washington County. Next come Montgomery County (10) and Bradley County (7).

Vermont holds 114 licensed records, the 2nd most recorded of 74 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Vermont run mostly April through October, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Chittenden County, Washington County and Rutland County. Next come Windham County (10) and Addison County (6).

Louisiana holds 109 licensed records, the 9th most recorded of 107 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Louisiana run mostly March through November, peaking in March; most licensed records come from East Baton Rouge Parish, Saint Tammany Parish and Jefferson Davis Parish. Next come Tangipahoa Parish (6) and Iberville Parish (4).

Wisconsin holds 109 licensed records, the 2nd most recorded of 149 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Wisconsin run mostly May through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Waukesha County, Dane County and Milwaukee County. Next come Kenosha County (6) and Jefferson County (5).

Kansas holds 100 licensed records, the most recorded of 94 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Kansas run mostly April through October, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Leavenworth County, Douglas County and Riley County. Next come Johnson County (8) and Sedgwick County (4).

Iowa holds 96 licensed records, the most recorded of 57 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Iowa run mostly May through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Harrison County, Johnson County and Linn County. Next come Story County (7) and Woodbury County (7).

Most of what is known about the bold jumper is recent: 95% of dated U.S. records were made in 2017–2026, and half date from 2023 or later. The oldest dated record is from 1885; the busiest year was 2024, with 1,829 records.

Of the 498 counties where the bold jumper is most recorded, 243 are also top counties for the black-and-yellow argiope, more than for any other spider. None of its closest neighbors is venomous.

Other species of the genus Phidippus with profiles here: Brilliant jumping spider, Putnam's jumper, Johnson jumper, Grayish jumping spider, Whitman's jumping spider, Apache jumping spider and Canopy jumping spider.