Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Photo#291642
Phidippus borealis?? - Phidippus purpuratus

Phidippus borealis?? - Phidippus purpuratus
Creighton, Northern, Saskatchewan, Canada
June 20, 2009
Size: 10 - 15 mm
This is the biggest jumping spider that I have ever seen up here. When I first saw the iridescent chelicera it totally looked like the Bold Jumping spider that showed up on some grapes from California. I didn't realize that we have such a large jumper here with that beautiful iridescence.

Images of this individual: tag all
Phidippus borealis?? - Phidippus purpuratus Phidippus borealis?? - Phidippus purpuratus Phidippus borealis?? - Phidippus purpuratus Phidippus borealis?? - Phidippus purpuratus Phidippus borealis?? - Phidippus purpuratus

Moved
Moved from purpuratus group.

Moved
Moved from Phidippus.

Moved
Moved from Jumping Spiders.

Moved
Moved from Spiders.

 
Phidippus
This is definitely the right genus for this one. P. borealis is a likely suspect for the species, but I never did get a chance to examine a specimen.

Might be
Are the colors correct in your photos? I've identified P. borealis males and females here in Whitecourt, Alberta - based on the female epigyne and then inferring the species of the male I found mating with the female.

The males in my area are a brighter orange than your photos, but otherwise very similar:



More photos of P. borealis from Whitecourt here:

http://www.thelensflare.com/artist/jsloan/new-images

Another possibility for your spider would be P. purpuratus. It has been found in southern Saskatchewan (according to Edwards, 2004), and the males are more the color of your spider. However, I've found that coloration can vary quite a lot among individuals of P. borealis (though not so much among males in my area). Some of the females look so different from each other you'd think they were different species. Have you seen any females in your area? If so, there are some pictures of females from the Whitecourt area for comparison.

You're right about the size. This is the largest jumper in my area, too. Anyway, I think you're on the right track. To nail down the ID you'll probably need to examine the genitalia.

 
Color
Ya, the colors in my photo are correct. I wonder what the range of the P. borealis is? We are in northern Sk, in the boreal on the Canadian Shield.

 
Range
Edwards' range map for borealis is here. FWIW, the page for purpuratus is here.

Before you get caught up in the drawings, note that they represent appearance in alcohol, which is sometimes quite different than the live specimen.

 
That's within its range
According to the distribution map for P. borealis in Revision of the Jumping Spiders of the Genus Phidippus (Araneae: Salticidae), page 117, by G.B. Edwards (2004), this species has been collected in Saskatchewan almost as far north as the border with NWT, as well as south of that.

Let me add (since we're both in Canada) that if you want to collect and mail me some specimens of this spider I'll see if I can confirm the species for you (or find out what else it is, if it turns out not to be P. borealis). If you're interested, send me an email (my address is on my profile page) and I'll give you my mailing address and tell you how to prepare them for shipping.

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.