Phidippus audax - orange variation

andrewbateman left a comment

on the image below which says

How colour markings of Phidippus audax change with age
The colour changes in development of Phidippus audax have been studied in the paper cited below (which is freely available on the internet). According to this study the young immature spiders have white markings, later immature stages have the orange markings (which remind me of a halloween lantern face), but the fully mature adults regain the white markings.
According to the paper:-
“The color change of the abdominal markings from white to red was apparently characteristic of the antepenultimate and the penultimate instars . Thirty two percent of the spiderlings showed the change in their seventh instar, 35% in the eighth, and 20% in th e
ninth . The change occurred in spiderlings of both sexes, and all regained white markings as mature males or females .” FROM: Taylor, B . B ., and Peck, W. B . 1975 . A comparison of northern and southern forms of Phidippus audax (Hentz) (Araneida, Salticidae) . J . Arachnol . 2 :89-99 . PDF Here.

… Lynette Elliott, 11 November, 2010 - 9:38am

There are some exceptions

According to G.B. Edwards, some adults in Florida retain different colors as adults:

"Juveniles frequently have orange abdominal spots which turn white at maturity, although in the 'Big Bend' area of Florida, most individuals have yellow, orange or red spots as adults, and the spots are frequently enlarged or even fused together"

From: G.B. Edwards,Revision of the Jumping Spiders of the Genus Phidippus (Araneae: Salticidae), 2004, pg 76.

So, I agree with moving your image to juvenile. Looks like we just have to be careful with specimens from around the Big Bend area.

… John Sloan, 11 November, 2010 - 10:33am

Great

that's interesting. I'll keep that in mind.. when the moves are made.

… Lynette Elliott, 11 November, 2010 - 2:30pm