Tone Killick
Immature male P.regius, Regal Jumping Spider.
Adult males of P. regius average 12 mm in length (range 6 to18 mm). Males are always black with alternating black and white fringes on the first pair of legs; on the dorsum of the abdomen are a white basal band, a central triangular white spot, and a pair of oval white spots posteriorly. The paired chelicerae are enlarged and iridescent (green-blue- violet); each has a subdistal tubercle on its anterior face. The first legs of larger males are disproportionately longer than smaller males, a type of allometry. Adult females average 15 mm in length (range 7 to 22 mm). Females may have the same colour pattern as males, but usually females have the black dorsal areas of the body covered with colored scales. These scales may be gray, tan, brown, orange, or combinations of any or all of the above colours. Those females that are completely covered with orange scales are particularly attractive. Most of the more colourful females are found in the southern two-thirds of Florida and in the Greater Antilles. Cheliceral colour is iridescent (either green or red- violet), but less noticeable than in males because the chelicerae are usually covered by the palpi, small leg-like appendages which are densely covered with long white setae. The cheliceral tubercles are absent. Leg-fringes are present, but not as distinct as in males. Females also have four tufts of setae in the region of the dorsal eyes; males lack these tufts. Phidippus regius is found in most field and open woodland habitats, but not within mature hardwood forest. Smaller immatures usually are found in the herbaceous zone, but subadults and particularly adults favor palms and palmettoes in semiarid habitats. Where palms are absent, shrubs and trees are inhabited by the older stages. Adults seem to prefer substrates with relatively monoplanar surfaces and are frequently found on walls of buildings. As with all jumping spiders, P. regius uses its excellent vision to locate prey and potential mates.
Immature male P.regius, Regal Jumping Spider.
Adult males of P. regius average 12 mm in length (range 6 to18 mm). Males are always black with alternating black and white fringes on the first pair of legs; on the dorsum of the abdomen are a white basal band, a central triangular white spot, and a pair of oval white spots posteriorly. The paired chelicerae are enlarged and iridescent (green-blue- violet); each has a subdistal tubercle on its anterior face. The first legs of larger males are disproportionately longer than smaller males, a type of allometry. Adult females average 15 mm in length (range 7 to 22 mm). Females may have the same colour pattern as males, but usually females have the black dorsal areas of the body covered with colored scales. These scales may be gray, tan, brown, orange, or combinations of any or all of the above colours. Those females that are completely covered with orange scales are particularly attractive. Most of the more colourful females are found in the southern two-thirds of Florida and in the Greater Antilles. Cheliceral colour is iridescent (either green or red- violet), but less noticeable than in males because the chelicerae are usually covered by the palpi, small leg-like appendages which are densely covered with long white setae. The cheliceral tubercles are absent. Leg-fringes are present, but not as distinct as in males. Females also have four tufts of setae in the region of the dorsal eyes; males lack these tufts. Phidippus regius is found in most field and open woodland habitats, but not within mature hardwood forest. Smaller immatures usually are found in the herbaceous zone, but subadults and particularly adults favor palms and palmettoes in semiarid habitats. Where palms are absent, shrubs and trees are inhabited by the older stages. Adults seem to prefer substrates with relatively monoplanar surfaces and are frequently found on walls of buildings. As with all jumping spiders, P. regius uses its excellent vision to locate prey and potential mates.