Bold Jumping Spider
The Bold Jumping Spider is the backyard jumper made famous by its white 'smiley' abdomen spots and metallic green fangs - every bit as curious as its Regal cousin and often collected (legally and easily) from one's own garden.
🗓️ Last reviewed: July 2026
Overview
The Bold Jumping Spider is the backyard jumper made famous by its white 'smiley' abdomen spots and metallic green fangs - every bit as curious as its Regal cousin and often collected (legally and easily) from one's own garden. Average lifespan is 1-2 years. (Phidippus audax.)
Origin & Habitat
Backyards, fields and fence posts across most of North America - one of the continent's most familiar spiders.
Appearance
Body 8-15 mm. Velvet black with a bold white triangle-and-dots pattern on the abdomen, white leg bands and glittering green chelicerae.
Temperament & Handling
True to its name: fearless, investigative and quick to face whatever approaches. Handles like a Regal - safe, engaging, escape-prone during cage cleaning.
Enclosure
Same as the Regal: a small vertical enclosure (20-30 cm tall) with climbing structure and top-corner sleeping quarters, opened from the front or side rather than the lid.
Heating, Humidity, Lighting
Very forgiving - normal room temperatures (20-28°C), bright indirect light and a light misting for water droplets cover it. Hardy across a wide humidity range.
Diet
Flies, small crickets, moths 2-3× weekly. Wild-caught adults readily take feeder insects; watching one calculate a jump across the enclosure never gets old.
Health & Lifespan
Robust; lifespan is the limit - roughly a year for wild-caught adults, up to 2 for home-raised spiders. Provide molting privacy in the silk sac.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Can be found free in your own yard
- Iconic 'smiley face' pattern
- Bold, entertaining personality
Cons
- Shortest lifespan of popular pet inverts
- Wild adults are of unknown age
- Escape artist during maintenance
Bold Jumping Spider - frequently asked questions
Is it okay to catch one outside?
In most places, yes - common native jumpers aren't protected. An adult's remaining lifespan is unknown, so raising a captive-bred sling gives more time together.
Bold or Regal - which first?
Regal if buying (bigger, longer-lived); Bold if you want the free, local classic. Care is identical.
What are the green 'teeth'?
Iridescent chelicerae - the fang bases. The metallic green flash is structural color, brightest on males.
🧠 Test yourself: guess the exotic
Three clues from our quiz bank, each about another of our exotic. Can you name them?
Clue 1.Kept as a low-maintenance pet abroad, this slow nocturnal animal needs calcium to build its huge spiral shell.
It's the Giant African Land Snail - read the full profile →
Clue 2.Sold cheaply at beach shops, this pet has one oversized claw used to seal the entrance of its home.
It's the Hermit Crab - read the full profile →
Clue 3.New World species of this arachnid defend themselves by kicking urticating hairs, while Old World species rely on faster, more potent bites.
It's the Tarantula - read the full profile →