Pantropical jumper (Plexippus paykulli)
The pantropical jumper is a spider in the family Salticidae that is not dangerous to people. GBIF holds 521 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 11 states, most of all Texas (300), Louisiana (86) and Florida (35). Its observation records peak in September.
Plexippus paykulli is a species of jumping spider. It is native to Southeast Asia, but now has a cosmopolitan distribution. In the United States it is commonly known as the pantropical jumping spider.
From Wikipedia: Plexippus paykulli, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is the pantropical jumper poisonous or venomous?
Not in any medically significant way. Like almost all spiders the pantropical 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 pantropical jumper?
The pantropical jumper's U.S. record is concentrated: Texas alone holds 58% of licensed records. It is listed in 11 states in all; the next are Louisiana (86), Florida (35) and Georgia (28).
| # | State | Records | Share of state spiders | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 300 | 1.0% | 18th of 386 |
| 2 | Louisiana | 86 | 2.1% | 13th of 107 |
| 3 | Florida | 35 | 0.3% | 56th of 237 |
| 4 | Georgia | 28 | 0.4% | 51st of 186 |
| 5 | Alabama | 27 | 0.8% | 32nd of 143 |
| 6 | California | 16 | 0.0% | 188th of 309 |
| 7 | Mississippi | 16 | 1.1% | 19th of 117 |
| 8 | Hawaii | 4 | 0.1% | 45th of 57 |
| 9 | South Carolina | 3 | 0.1% | 82nd of 121 |
| 10 | North Carolina | 1 | 0.0% | 169th of 184 |
| 11 | Arizona | 0 | — | — |
When is the pantropical jumper seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the pantropical jumper run mostly March through November, peaking in September with 14% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 10% of them.
Season by state
Observation records run through most of the year in Texas. Each of these states peaks in a different month: June in Louisiana and September in Texas.
| State | Main season | Peak month | Observation records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | most of the year | September | 276 |
| Louisiana | February through September | June | 86 |
Where the pantropical jumper is recorded in each state
Texas
Texas holds 300 licensed records, the 18th most recorded of 386 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Texas run through most of the year, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Harris County, Hidalgo County and Fort Bend County. Next come Bexar County (15) and Travis County (15).
Louisiana
Louisiana holds 86 licensed records, the 13th most recorded of 107 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Louisiana run mostly February through September, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Calcasieu Parish, East Baton Rouge Parish and Saint Tammany Parish. Next come Tangipahoa Parish (8) and Acadia Parish (5).
Florida
Florida holds 35 licensed records, the joint 56th most recorded of 237 spiders listed there. Most of its licensed records in Florida come from Escambia County, Alachua County and Miami-Dade County. Next come Polk County (3) and Franklin County (2).
Top counties in the U.S.
| # | County | State | Records | Share of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harris County | Texas | 72 | 13.8% |
| 2 | Hidalgo County | Texas | 48 | 9.2% |
| 3 | Calcasieu Parish | Louisiana | 36 | 6.9% |
| 4 | Fort Bend County | Texas | 26 | 5.0% |
| 5 | East Baton Rouge Parish | Louisiana | 15 | 2.9% |
| 6 | Bexar County | Texas | 15 | 2.9% |
| 7 | Travis County | Texas | 15 | 2.9% |
| 8 | Brazoria County | Texas | 14 | 2.7% |
| 9 | Nueces County | Texas | 11 | 2.1% |
| 10 | Saint Tammany Parish | Louisiana | 10 | 1.9% |
| 11 | Brazos County | Texas | 10 | 1.9% |
| 12 | Collin County | Texas | 10 | 1.9% |
| 13 | Cameron County | Texas | 9 | 1.7% |
| 14 | Galveston County | Texas | 9 | 1.7% |
| 15 | Tangipahoa Parish | Louisiana | 8 | 1.5% |
How recent are the pantropical jumper records?
Most of what is known about the pantropical jumper is recent: 90% of dated U.S. records were made in 2017–2026, and half date from 2021 or later. The oldest dated record is from 1935; the busiest year was 2019, with 80 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 2 | 0.4% |
| 1950s | 1 | 0.2% |
| 1980s | 6 | 1.1% |
| 1990s | 2 | 0.4% |
| 2000s | 6 | 1.1% |
| 2010s | 192 | 34.3% |
| 2020s | 350 | 62.6% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 40 counties where the pantropical jumper is most recorded, 26 are also top counties for Tigrosa annexa, more than for any other spider. None of its closest neighbors is venomous.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| Tigrosa annexa | 26 |
| Arabesque orbweaver | 25 |
| Gray wall jumper | 25 |
| Rabid wolf spider | 25 |
| Familiar jumping spider | 23 |
| Leucauge argyrobapta | 23 |
| Spiny-backed orbweaver | 23 |
| Common Hentz jumping spider | 22 |
Related species in the U.S.
Other members of the family Salticidae with profiles here: Bold jumper, Familiar jumping spider, Zebra spider, Bronze jumper, Magnolia green jumper and Half-edged wall jumping spider.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.