Jumping Spider (Salticidae) on a Prickly Pear cactus - genus Phidippus, maybe Phidippus johnsoni?
I found this lovely Jumping Spider (Salticidae) perched on a cactus pad of a Prickly Pear (Opuntia, Cactaceae) cactus in the garden this morning. I'm sure it's genus Phidippus. It seems an add place to find this, but maybe it's a male Johnson Jumper (Phidippus johnsoni) as a mate for the female I found a few weeks ago, see this photo. It's looking straight ahead to the right, but it has me nailed with its "posterior lateral eye"! Arachtober 13. (San Marcos Pass, 13 October 2015)
It was pretty deep inside the cactus plant, so this is a bit of a crop. I couldn't get any closer! The big thorns are a deterrent, but the tiny "glochid" spines are the worst!
Today started cloudy, but then the sun came out and it warmed up. Then it started cooling down in the afternoon, and some clouds started to move in from the SW. There's still a 30% chance for a bit of tropical rain tomorrow. I hope it happens.
Jumping Spider (Salticidae) on a Prickly Pear cactus - genus Phidippus, maybe Phidippus johnsoni?
I found this lovely Jumping Spider (Salticidae) perched on a cactus pad of a Prickly Pear (Opuntia, Cactaceae) cactus in the garden this morning. I'm sure it's genus Phidippus. It seems an add place to find this, but maybe it's a male Johnson Jumper (Phidippus johnsoni) as a mate for the female I found a few weeks ago, see this photo. It's looking straight ahead to the right, but it has me nailed with its "posterior lateral eye"! Arachtober 13. (San Marcos Pass, 13 October 2015)
It was pretty deep inside the cactus plant, so this is a bit of a crop. I couldn't get any closer! The big thorns are a deterrent, but the tiny "glochid" spines are the worst!
Today started cloudy, but then the sun came out and it warmed up. Then it started cooling down in the afternoon, and some clouds started to move in from the SW. There's still a 30% chance for a bit of tropical rain tomorrow. I hope it happens.