CLOSED: Weird unknown spider.

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MajinUltima Jacksonville, FL Oct 27, 2006

Usually, I don't worry about these things, but this is just the first time I've run into anything so large and furry. I recently moved here to north florida, a few miles from the ocean and a large river, in an area with a number of ponds including a pond ~50ft behind our house. So, I'm not sure what all is normal to see around here as far as pests go, since I used to live in sourthern california.

I found this spider creeping along our front door frame when my cat noticed it through the glass. It is about the diameter of a quarter, and took took quite a bit of spray before it stopped moving. So I took the best picture of it I could get. This just struck me as a very unusual spider to encounter given the thickness of its legs and how fuzzy it is, like a miniaturized tarantula.

Thanks for any help!

Thumbnail by MajinUltima
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MajinUltima Jacksonville, FL Oct 27, 2006

I moved it around and got a better picture, from the front.

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sallyg Anne Arundel,, MD(Zone 7b) Oct 27, 2006

Well, I can understand your shock at having it at the door, but it looks like a big cousin to jumping spiders that we have, that I consider friendly guests. They never bite me. But what do I know about FL? maybe you do have little tarantulas.

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Floridian Lutz, FL(Zone 9b) Oct 27, 2006

I think your spider may be Menemerus bivittatus aka Gray Wall Jumper
http://davesgarden.com/bf/showimage/923/

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MajinUltima Jacksonville, FL Oct 28, 2006

Looking up some info, I am inclined to agree so far. Seems to be the right color, fuzziness, and size. Sorry to the person who likes these little guys, but I am quite the arachnophobe and the only thing I won't take out are unintrusive daddy longlegs, who I leave around to kill the other spiders for me. As a matter of irony, a group of daddy longlegs were wiped out by roughly 4 black widows who were in my garage in california. As long as I don't run into them or their webs, I'm fine though.

I am quite happy to find that this species doesn't seem to get any bigger than the one I found and that they don't leave webs. I am not fond of the fact that they jump, but better that than webs, and I know spiders and what not don't often attempt to attack larger animals.

I won't declare this solved JUST yet...

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menemerus Jan 17, 2011

Hi folks:

This is a species of Phidippus (family Salticidae, jumping spiders). There are about 13 species in the genus found in Florida, so making an ID to species is not always easy.

Cheers,

Menemerus

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Jan 17, 2011

This appears to be Phidippus regius, the largest species in this family in your area - see http://tinyurl.com/45lcadv

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