This female jumping spider (Phidippus princeps) from Greenville County, South Carolina, USA, was filmed as it groomed after feeding on an insect. Grooming behavior included use of pedipalps as an eye brush for the large front eyes, and cleaning of the iridescent chelicerae. This close-up portrays some of the unique character of these fascinating animals.
This adult female jumping spider (Phidippus princeps) from Greenville County, South Carolina, was filmed as it fed upon a captured fly. Note how this spider chewed its prey with its fanged chelicerae. The sharp-edged fangs are opposed by teeth at the end of the chelicerae. Chewing (maceration) alternated with suction (feeding) as well as regurgitation of digestive fluids into the prey.
As shown in this series of clips of several adult female Phidippus princeps (Salticidae, from Greenville County, South Carolina, USA), jumping spiders make frequent "facing turns" directed toward moving objects, or toward any objects that they subsequently survey with their large, foveal front eyes (anterior medial, or primary eyes. Note how these spiders move their pedipalps up and down frequently ("flickering" or "flashing" movements). The purposes of pedipalpal movement is not known for certain, but may include both display and chemical sampling of the surface. This display may actually stimulate the movement of nearby insects, and thus their detection by these spiders. Frequent turns and pedipalpal movement are characteristic behaviors of jumping spiders. Several clips also depict jumps.
This adult female Phidippus princeps (jumping spider, Salticidae) from Greenville County, South Carolina, USA, was filmed after it captured a wolf spider (Lycosidae) and moved to the top of a branch to feed on it. At the beginning of this clip the jumping spider was just beginning to chew or macerate the legs of the wolf spider, and the cephalothorax or prosoma of the wolf spider was still relatively intact. Phidippus jumping spiders are voracious predators on many kinds of spiders, as well as insects. They may also feed on flower nectar or pollen, as has been demonstrated in other jumping spiders.
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