Species Sassacus vitis

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Size · Range · Habitat · Food · Remarks

(Sassacus) vitis on Vitis - Sassacus vitis

Sleek Jumper Seeks Identity - Sassacus vitis

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Arachnida (Arachnids)

Order Araneae (Spiders)

Infraorder Araneomorphae (True Spiders)

No Taxon (Entelegynes)

Family Salticidae (Jumping Spiders)

Subfamily Dendryphantinae

Genus Sassacus

Species vitis (Sassacus vitis)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Dendryphantes vitis

Icius vitis

Metaphidippus vitis

Dendryphantes apachecus

Explanation of Names

vitis is Latin for "grapevine"

Size

3.5 mm (male)

4.5 mm (female)

Range

Kansas south to Texas and west to California (both southern & northern).

Habitat

On shrubs and vines and in fields. Best know as a common resident in vineyards.

Food

Insects and smaller spiders. Said to like thrips and small flies, but not leafhoppers

Remarks

The body is covered in iridescent scales which flash either green or gold in strong light. This often doesn't show up well in photographs.

This iridescence has been explained as mimicking of certain beetles, but more recently it's been suggested that it may be for mimicking of water droplets.

Contributed by Chuck Entz on 12 February, 2006 - 1:12am
Last updated 12 February, 2006 - 7:15am

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