Slender ant mimicking jumping spider (Synemosyna formica)
The slender ant mimicking jumping spider is a spider in the family Salticidae that is not dangerous to people. GBIF holds 344 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 24 states, most of all Georgia (67), Virginia (46) and Pennsylvania (30). Its observation records peak in May.
Synemosyna formica is a species of ant-mimicking jumping spider. It is found in the eastern United States and parts of Canada. The first pair of legs are elevated to imitate ant antennae, unlike other ant mimics such as the genus Synageles which use their second pair of legs.
From Wikipedia: Synemosyna formica, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is the slender ant mimicking jumping spider poisonous or venomous?
Not in any medically significant way. Like almost all spiders the slender ant mimicking jumping spider (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 slender ant mimicking jumping spider?
Records are spread over 24 states; the top three, Georgia, Virginia and Pennsylvania, hold 42% of them.
| # | State | Records | Share of state spiders | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia | 67 | 1.0% | 23rd of 186 |
| 2 | Virginia | 46 | 0.4% | 54th of 176 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | 30 | 0.4% | 45th of 164 |
| 4 | Illinois | 28 | 0.1% | 94th of 243 |
| 5 | Ohio | 23 | 0.3% | 62nd of 332 |
| 6 | Oklahoma | 21 | 0.4% | 49th of 149 |
| 7 | Maryland | 15 | 0.3% | 75th of 153 |
| 8 | Louisiana | 13 | 0.3% | 52nd of 107 |
| 9 | New York | 13 | 0.2% | 71st of 149 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 11 | 0.2% | 72nd of 189 |
| 11 | Indiana | 9 | 0.2% | 93rd of 133 |
| 12 | Minnesota | 9 | 0.3% | 60th of 145 |
| 13 | Michigan | 8 | 0.3% | 48th of 122 |
| 14 | Florida | 7 | 0.1% | 171st of 237 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | 6 | 0.4% | 46th of 72 |
| 16 | Kentucky | 5 | 0.3% | 61st of 103 |
| 17 | Tennessee | 4 | 0.1% | 94th of 138 |
| 18 | Alabama | 3 | 0.1% | 101st of 143 |
| 19 | Connecticut | 3 | 0.3% | 49th of 86 |
| 20 | New Jersey | 3 | 0.1% | 95th of 127 |
| 21 | Missouri | 2 | 0.1% | 82nd of 117 |
| 22 | North Carolina | 1 | 0.0% | 169th of 184 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | 1 | 0.0% | 130th of 149 |
| 24 | South Carolina | 0 | — | — |
When is the slender ant mimicking jumping spider seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the slender ant mimicking jumping spider run mostly April through October, peaking in May with 22% of them. Almost none are from December to February.
Season by state
Among states whose main season falls within one calendar year, it starts earliest in March (Georgia) and latest in April (Virginia). Each of these states peaks in a different month: April in Georgia and May in Virginia.
| State | Main season | Peak month | Observation records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | March through September | April | 67 |
| Virginia | April through October | May | 46 |
Where the slender ant mimicking jumping spider is recorded in each state
Georgia
Georgia holds 67 licensed records, the 23rd most recorded of 186 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Georgia run mostly March through September, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Clarke County, Cobb County and Gwinnett County. Next come Bartow County (9) and Oconee County (3).
Virginia
Virginia holds 46 licensed records, the joint 54th most recorded of 176 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Virginia run mostly April through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Loudoun County and Prince William County. Next come Albemarle County (1) and Fauquier County (1).
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania holds 30 licensed records, the joint 45th most recorded of 164 spiders listed there. Most of its licensed records in Pennsylvania come from Bucks County, Westmoreland County and Allegheny County. Next come Berks County (3) and Chester County (2).
Top counties in the U.S.
| # | County | State | Records | Share of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairfax County | Virginia | 27 | 7.8% |
| 2 | Clarke County | Georgia | 21 | 6.1% |
| 3 | Cobb County | Georgia | 15 | 4.4% |
| 4 | Loudoun County | Virginia | 10 | 2.9% |
| 5 | Gwinnett County | Georgia | 9 | 2.6% |
| 6 | Bartow County | Georgia | 9 | 2.6% |
| 7 | Bucks County | Pennsylvania | 9 | 2.6% |
| 8 | Westmoreland County | Pennsylvania | 6 | 1.7% |
| 9 | Prince William County | Virginia | 5 | 1.5% |
| 10 | Allegheny County | Pennsylvania | 4 | 1.2% |
| 11 | Oconee County | Georgia | 3 | 0.9% |
| 12 | Berks County | Pennsylvania | 3 | 0.9% |
| 13 | Putnam County | Georgia | 2 | 0.6% |
| 14 | Forsyth County | Georgia | 2 | 0.6% |
| 15 | Chester County | Pennsylvania | 2 | 0.6% |
How recent are the slender ant mimicking jumping spider records?
Most of what is known about the slender ant mimicking jumping spider is recent: 88% of dated U.S. records were made in 2017–2026, and half date from 2024 or later. The oldest dated record is from 1933; the busiest year was 2025, with 75 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 4 | 1.1% |
| 1940s | 20 | 5.3% |
| 1950s | 2 | 0.5% |
| 1960s | 3 | 0.8% |
| 1980s | 1 | 0.3% |
| 2000s | 1 | 0.3% |
| 2010s | 43 | 11.5% |
| 2020s | 300 | 80.2% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 30 counties where the slender ant mimicking jumping spider is most recorded, 25 are also top counties for Paraphidippus aurantius, more than for any other spider. None of its closest neighbors is venomous.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| Paraphidippus aurantius | 25 |
| Putnam's jumper | 22 |
| Orchard orbweaver | 21 |
| American green crab spider | 20 |
| Arrowhead orbweaver | 20 |
| Bronze jumper | 20 |
| Nursery web spider | 20 |
| Sylvan jumping spider | 20 |
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.