Johnson jumper (Phidippus johnsoni)
The Johnson jumper is a spider in the family Salticidae that is not dangerous to people. GBIF holds 1,058 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 10 states, most of all California (901), Washington (51) and Oregon (46). Its observation records peak in April.
Phidippus johnsoni, the red-backed jumping spider or Johnson jumping spider, is one of the largest and most commonly encountered jumping spiders of western North America. It is not to be confused with the unrelated and highly venomous redback spider (Latrodectus hasselti).
From Wikipedia: Phidippus johnsoni, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is the Johnson jumper poisonous or venomous?
Not in any medically significant way. Like almost all spiders the Johnson 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.
Which states have the Johnson jumper?
The Johnson jumper's U.S. record is concentrated: California alone holds 85% of licensed records. It is listed in 10 states in all; the next are Washington (51), Oregon (46) and Utah (20).
| # | State | Records | Share of state spiders | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 901 | 1.8% | 8th of 309 |
| 2 | Washington | 51 | 1.3% | 13th of 157 |
| 3 | Oregon | 46 | 1.6% | 11th of 88 |
| 4 | Utah | 20 | 0.8% | 15th of 97 |
| 5 | Montana | 12 | 0.5% | 19th of 75 |
| 6 | Nevada | 9 | 1.7% | 14th of 47 |
| 7 | Idaho | 6 | 1.1% | 17th of 56 |
| 8 | Colorado | 4 | 0.1% | 87th of 378 |
| 9 | Wyoming | 3 | 1.4% | 6th of 68 |
| 10 | New Mexico | 1 | 0.0% | 143rd of 247 |
When is the Johnson jumper seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the Johnson jumper run mostly March through November, peaking in April with 28% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 8% of them.
Season by state
Among states whose main season falls within one calendar year, it starts earliest in March (California and Oregon) and latest in April (Washington). The most common peak month is May, shared by Oregon and Washington.
| State | Main season | Peak month | Observation records |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | March through November | April | 841 |
| Washington | April through September | May | 51 |
| Oregon | March through September | May | 45 |
Where the Johnson jumper is recorded in each state
California
California holds 901 licensed records, the 8th most recorded of 309 spiders listed there. Its observation records in California run mostly March through November, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Alameda County, San Diego County and Marin County. Next come Sonoma County (63) and Contra Costa County (54).
Washington
Washington holds 51 licensed records, the 13th most recorded of 157 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Washington run mostly April through September, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Clallam County, Skagit County and Lewis County. Next come Grays Harbor County (3) and Okanogan County (3).
Oregon
Oregon holds 46 licensed records, the 11th most recorded of 88 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Oregon run mostly March through September, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Jackson County, Lane County and Hood River County. Next come Josephine County (5) and Wasco County (4).
Top counties in the U.S.
| # | County | State | Records | Share of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alameda County | California | 128 | 12.1% |
| 2 | San Diego County | California | 101 | 9.5% |
| 3 | Marin County | California | 63 | 6.0% |
| 4 | Sonoma County | California | 63 | 6.0% |
| 5 | Contra Costa County | California | 54 | 5.1% |
| 6 | Solano County | California | 51 | 4.8% |
| 7 | San Francisco County | California | 47 | 4.4% |
| 8 | Napa County | California | 42 | 4.0% |
| 9 | Los Angeles County | California | 37 | 3.5% |
| 10 | Santa Clara County | California | 37 | 3.5% |
| 11 | Humboldt County | California | 36 | 3.4% |
| 12 | San Mateo County | California | 29 | 2.7% |
| 13 | Riverside County | California | 22 | 2.1% |
| 14 | Santa Cruz County | California | 22 | 2.1% |
| 15 | Monterey County | California | 17 | 1.6% |
How recent are the Johnson jumper records?
Most of what is known about the Johnson jumper is recent: 90% of dated U.S. records were made in 2017–2026, and half date from 2024 or later. The oldest dated record is from 1925; the busiest year was 2025, with 214 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 1 | 0.1% |
| 1930s | 17 | 1.5% |
| 1940s | 2 | 0.2% |
| 1950s | 1 | 0.1% |
| 1960s | 6 | 0.5% |
| 1970s | 6 | 0.5% |
| 1980s | 7 | 0.6% |
| 1990s | 1 | 0.1% |
| 2000s | 15 | 1.4% |
| 2010s | 149 | 13.5% |
| 2020s | 899 | 81.4% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 45 counties where the Johnson jumper is most recorded, 28 are also top counties for both Pelegrina aeneola and the zebra spider; no other spider shares more. None of its closest neighbors is venomous.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| Pelegrina aeneola | 28 |
| Zebra spider | 28 |
| Bold jumper | 24 |
| Garden spider | 24 |
| California flattened jumping spider | 22 |
| Goldenrod crab spider | 22 |
| Longbodied cellar spider | 22 |
| Sixspotted orbweaver | 21 |
Related species in the U.S.
Other species of the genus Phidippus with profiles here: Bold jumper, Brilliant jumping spider, Putnam's jumper, Grayish jumping spider, Whitman's jumping spider, Apache jumping spider and Canopy jumping spider.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.