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Photo#828984
Fungal Infection on Jumping Spider (Phiddipus putnami)

Fungal Infection on Jumping Spider (Phiddipus putnami)
Bon Aqua, Hickman County, Tennessee, USA
August 22, 2013
I noticed an odd looking spider on the underside of a pickerelweed in one of my kiddie wading ponds August 22, 2013. I approached and thought I saw it turn away from me. I moved several leaves from around it to get photos but the spider only moved 2 more times throughout some major disturbances and only a cm away. I finally picked the leaf and carried it to a better location for pix. It appears to have a fungus growing out of its body. When I went out the next morning the spider was dead. The spider appears to be a Jumping Spider (Phiddipus putnami). — at Hickman County, TN.

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Moved
Moved from ID Request. Awesome pics!

Phidippus putnami male w/fungus
I have seen entomophagous fungi kill other Phidippus species in the field and in the lab in Florida. Great observation and photos.

 
Thanks and ?
Thank you for taking the time to look and respond. Do we know the species or even the genus of the fungus? I have the deceased spider in the vegetable bin of my refrigerator if there is some where to test it.
Regards, Lisa

 
Fungus ID
Looks like a Gibellula--see other examples here. No chance of species ID without having a specialist examine it under a microscope.