Jumping Spider on California Buckwheat - Phidippus species
Here are two shots of an impressive Jumping Spider (Salticidae) in an shrub of native California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum, Polygonaceae) in the woods today. The shrub still has a few flowers among the faded ones, and I first found this spider on a cluster of them. I'm sure it is some kind of genus Phidippus spider with those orange colors on its abdomen, but the grizzled black and white on its face and legs is just as impressive. If you look close on the left, you can see its spiky hair and just a hint of blue/green chelicerae. It looks something like the spider I found in this photo last month, except that one has a red abdomen. Both might be species Phidippus adumbratus which is part of the Phidippus insignarius group. It's a grand spider, larger than most jumpers. (San Marcos Pass, 2 November 2020)
There was a steady breeze while I was trying to photograph this spider, and I did what I always do in the wind - take lots of photos and go through them for the few keepers. It was warm today also, almost up to 80°. I'm still posting photos from our "missing week" with no internet, and I probably will be for some time.
Jumping Spider on California Buckwheat - Phidippus species
Here are two shots of an impressive Jumping Spider (Salticidae) in an shrub of native California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum, Polygonaceae) in the woods today. The shrub still has a few flowers among the faded ones, and I first found this spider on a cluster of them. I'm sure it is some kind of genus Phidippus spider with those orange colors on its abdomen, but the grizzled black and white on its face and legs is just as impressive. If you look close on the left, you can see its spiky hair and just a hint of blue/green chelicerae. It looks something like the spider I found in this photo last month, except that one has a red abdomen. Both might be species Phidippus adumbratus which is part of the Phidippus insignarius group. It's a grand spider, larger than most jumpers. (San Marcos Pass, 2 November 2020)
There was a steady breeze while I was trying to photograph this spider, and I did what I always do in the wind - take lots of photos and go through them for the few keepers. It was warm today also, almost up to 80°. I'm still posting photos from our "missing week" with no internet, and I probably will be for some time.