Sylvan jumping spider (Colonus sylvanus)
The sylvan jumping spider is a spider in the family Salticidae that is not dangerous to people. GBIF holds 1,143 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 24 states, most of all Virginia (171), Texas (154) and Georgia (125). Its observation records peak in May.
Colonus sylvanus, or the sylvan jumping spider, is a species of jumping spider. It is found in a range from the United States to Panama. It was first described by entomologist Nicholas Marcellus Hentz in 1846 based on specimens from South Carolina.
From Wikipedia: Colonus sylvanus, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is the sylvan jumping spider poisonous or venomous?
Not in any medically significant way. Like almost all spiders the sylvan 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 sylvan jumping spider?
Records are spread over 24 states; the top three, Virginia, Texas and Georgia, hold 39% of them.
| # | State | Records | Share of state spiders | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia | 171 | 1.5% | 18th of 176 |
| 2 | Texas | 154 | 0.5% | 37th of 386 |
| 3 | Georgia | 125 | 1.9% | 12th of 186 |
| 4 | Maryland | 87 | 1.5% | 16th of 153 |
| 5 | North Carolina | 79 | 0.9% | 28th of 184 |
| 6 | Florida | 66 | 0.5% | 27th of 237 |
| 7 | Louisiana | 63 | 1.6% | 17th of 107 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | 45 | 0.9% | 27th of 149 |
| 9 | Alabama | 40 | 1.1% | 20th of 143 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | 39 | 0.5% | 34th of 164 |
| 11 | Tennessee | 37 | 1.0% | 25th of 138 |
| 12 | Ohio | 34 | 0.5% | 49th of 332 |
| 13 | New Jersey | 32 | 1.4% | 19th of 127 |
| 14 | Arkansas | 27 | 1.7% | 17th of 114 |
| 15 | Kentucky | 26 | 1.4% | 21st of 103 |
| 16 | Indiana | 21 | 0.5% | 44th of 133 |
| 17 | Illinois | 17 | 0.1% | 142nd of 243 |
| 18 | South Carolina | 15 | 0.6% | 34th of 121 |
| 19 | Delaware | 13 | 0.6% | 39th of 71 |
| 20 | Missouri | 13 | 0.6% | 38th of 117 |
| 21 | Mississippi | 12 | 0.8% | 27th of 117 |
| 22 | New York | 12 | 0.2% | 74th of 149 |
| 23 | Kansas | 6 | 0.4% | 48th of 94 |
| 24 | West Virginia | 3 | 0.4% | 40th of 90 |
When is the sylvan jumping spider seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the sylvan jumping spider run mostly April through October, peaking in May with 33% 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 February (Alabama and Florida) and latest in May (Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia). The most common peak month is May, shared by Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio and 2 more.
| State | Main season | Peak month | Observation records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | May through October | May | 170 |
| Texas | April through November | November | 125 |
| Georgia | April through September | May | 122 |
| Maryland | May through September | May | 87 |
| North Carolina | April through September | May | 74 |
| Louisiana | March through September | April | 61 |
| Florida | February through September | May | 51 |
| Alabama | February through July | June | 40 |
| Pennsylvania | April through August | June | 38 |
| Tennessee | April through September | May | 37 |
| Oklahoma | April through October | June | 36 |
| Ohio | April through June | May | 34 |
| New Jersey | May through October | May | 31 |
Where the sylvan jumping spider is recorded in each state
Virginia
Virginia holds 171 licensed records, the joint 18th most recorded of 176 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Virginia run mostly May through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Arlington County and Loudoun County. Next come Prince William County (8) and Hanover County (3).
Texas
Texas holds 154 licensed records, the 37th most recorded of 386 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Texas run mostly April through November, peaking in November; most licensed records come from Hidalgo County, Fort Bend County and Harris County. Next come Travis County (14) and Cameron County (8).
Georgia
Georgia holds 125 licensed records, the 12th most recorded of 186 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Georgia run mostly April through September, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Clarke County, Gwinnett County and DeKalb County. Next come Cobb County (9) and Paulding County (5).
Maryland
Maryland holds 87 licensed records, the 16th most recorded of 153 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Maryland run mostly May through September, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Montgomery County, Frederick County and Prince George's County. Next come Baltimore County (8) and Howard County (5).
North Carolina
North Carolina holds 79 licensed records, the 28th most recorded of 184 spiders listed there. Its observation records in North Carolina run mostly April through September, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Orange County, Cumberland County and Durham County. Next come Buncombe County (5) and Wake County (5).
Florida
Florida holds 66 licensed records, the 27th most recorded of 237 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Florida run mostly February through September, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Alachua County, Broward County and Sarasota County. Next come Duval County (4) and Orange County (4).
Louisiana
Louisiana holds 63 licensed records, the 17th most recorded of 107 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Louisiana run mostly March through September, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Calcasieu Parish, East Baton Rouge Parish and Saint Tammany Parish. Next come Jefferson Davis Parish (6) and Iberville Parish (4).
Oklahoma
Oklahoma holds 45 licensed records, the 27th most recorded of 149 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Oklahoma run mostly April through October, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Mayes County, Osage County and Marshall County. Next come Pawnee County (2) and Cleveland County (1).
Alabama
Alabama holds 40 licensed records, the 20th most recorded of 143 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Alabama run mostly February through July, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Mobile County, Baldwin County and Jefferson County. Next come Blount County (3) and Tuscaloosa County (3).
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania holds 39 licensed records, the joint 34th most recorded of 164 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Pennsylvania run mostly April through August, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Allegheny County, Philadelphia County and Bucks County. Next come Westmoreland County (3) and Chester County (2).
Tennessee
Tennessee holds 37 licensed records, the joint 25th most recorded of 138 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Tennessee run mostly April through September, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Shelby County, Knox County and Davidson County. Next come Montgomery County (3) and Marion County (2).
Ohio
Ohio holds 34 licensed records, the 49th most recorded of 332 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Ohio run mostly April through June, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Clermont County, Franklin County and Delaware County. Next come Montgomery County (3) and Adams County (2).
New Jersey
New Jersey holds 32 licensed records, the 19th most recorded of 127 spiders listed there. Its observation records in New Jersey run mostly May through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Atlantic County, Middlesex County and Hunterdon County. Next come Monmouth County (3) and Burlington County (3).
Top counties in the U.S.
| # | County | State | Records | Share of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairfax County | Virginia | 106 | 9.3% |
| 2 | Hidalgo County | Texas | 55 | 4.8% |
| 3 | Clarke County | Georgia | 50 | 4.4% |
| 4 | Alachua County | Florida | 27 | 2.4% |
| 5 | Montgomery County | Maryland | 22 | 1.9% |
| 6 | Fort Bend County | Texas | 19 | 1.7% |
| 7 | Mayes County | Oklahoma | 18 | 1.6% |
| 8 | Mobile County | Alabama | 16 | 1.4% |
| 9 | Arlington County | Virginia | 16 | 1.4% |
| 10 | Frederick County | Maryland | 15 | 1.3% |
| 11 | Prince George's County | Maryland | 15 | 1.3% |
| 12 | Orange County | North Carolina | 15 | 1.3% |
| 13 | Shelby County | Tennessee | 15 | 1.3% |
| 14 | Calcasieu Parish | Louisiana | 14 | 1.2% |
| 15 | Harris County | Texas | 14 | 1.2% |
How recent are the sylvan jumping spider records?
Most of what is known about the sylvan jumping spider is recent: 91% of dated U.S. records were made in 2017–2026, and half date from 2022 or later. The oldest dated record is from 1978; the busiest year was 2026, with 172 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1 | 0.1% |
| 1980s | 8 | 0.7% |
| 2000s | 15 | 1.2% |
| 2010s | 257 | 21.4% |
| 2020s | 921 | 76.6% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 177 counties where the sylvan jumping spider is most recorded, 112 are also top counties for the familiar jumping spider, more than for any other spider. None of its closest neighbors is venomous.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| Familiar jumping spider | 112 |
| Black-and-yellow argiope | 110 |
| Spotted orbweaver | 107 |
| Nursery web spider | 99 |
| Arrowhead orbweaver | 96 |
| Bold jumper | 95 |
| Rabid wolf spider | 94 |
| Orchard orbweaver | 89 |
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.