Many thanks for the input. The first link does seem to indicate this is a female E. militaris. Last year the showcase spider in the blackberries was P. clarus, with hardly any Bronze jumpers. This year I have only seen a few early instar P. clarus, but have observed dozens of adult male and female E. militaris - the blackberries also seem to be hosting an excess of Western Linx Spiders this year, as well.

The Behavior of Eris marginata was quite interesting, especially about the blackberries (which seem to be the best overall insect magnets I've yet found, especially when interlaced with non-spiny thistles). Another place I've found many E. militaris is on Saint Johnswort, provided the plant is in full, direct sunlight. Saint Johnswort doesn't reach as high as blackberries (12 to 15 inches perhaps), but it does offer a vast, broad network of tightly arranged flat leaves, even more dense than blackberries, and with all the volunteer wild daisies in the grass, many flies, bees, etc. stop for a cleaning on the Saint Johnswort, unsuspecting of the lurking Bronze Jumpers. The Saint Johnswort also seems to attract a myriad funnel web spiders.

I also found it interesting that the study was done in Corvallis, OR, not too far north of Elkton.

Cheers,

:-P)

Sounds like you may have a paper of your own to write one of these days. From the many different salticid pictures you're posting lately it looks like you've got an interesting mix of spiders in your area!

I will probably pay a little extra attention now to the E. militaris I find in my yard this summer.

So many spiders ... so little time. :)