Spider ID and... Does anyone know any info about it (If it's ok)?

15 years ago

I found this hairy and fat little black spider (with green pinchers in front and white spots on his abdomen) on my young apple tree today. He's between 1/2 and 3/4" long, legs included. I have noticed a couple of thin strands of web in the past three weeks, but had never seen the spider, so I'm not sure how long he has been hanging around. My husband called him a "garden spider" (probably something he learned as a kid, but maybe it's correct) and said he was good in controlling pests, which is what I have been told about most spiders in general.

Is this correct? Is every spider ok for the garden? Does anyone know what spider this is?

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Comments (4)

Day_By_Day
15 years ago
Goin' with a typical Phidippus audax Bold Jumper aka. Daring Jumping spider. Good for gardens.
ilikewinter
Original Author
15 years ago
Yup, you're right. Thank you! Just had it ID'd at Bugguide.net. Kinda worried about getting bitten, though... just read that these are among the most likely to bite, and that gardeners are most at risk for this. In my small space, we are likely to encounter each other quite a bit. I know they won't cause me harm, but I am likely to freak out and hurt it if it does bite me, and I don't want that to happen. On the other hand, the benefits he will likely bring may outweigh this worry...
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jean001
15 years ago
You wrwote: "just read that these are among the most likely to bite, and that gardeners are most at risk for this. "

Don't know where you found that. But not so.
oberhasli1
15 years ago
Jumping spiders do not make webs and can see very well, unlike most spiders. So, the likelihood of them biting you is very small. Spiders do their best to avoid people. I have even picked up one of these little guys (I had gardening gloves on)and they are fascinating to watch, and usually very colorful. They really can jump quite far too. I would leave him be in your garden.