That's a jumping spider. They don't build a web. Instead they stalk and ambush their prey. My greenhouse is full of them and my house less so. I like them for their lack of a web and they have never bothered me. I'm no expert here but really doubt they are any danger at all.

Very likely they are providing valuable pest control. You don't sound too afraid if you can appreciate his looks. I think they are fascinating creatures.

The Fruitnut

It is a Johnson Jumping Spider, nonpoisonous. Check the link.

Here is a link that might be useful: Johnson Jumping Spider

I agree. It's a jumping spider. It's really cute!

.I hear they taste just like chicken.

Jumping spider. All spiders are poisonous. However, not all are aggressive and not all have poison that would seriously hurt you. Jumping spiders aren't aggressive and don't have really bad poison.

Yay, I'm so glad you all were able to identify him/her. I had him trapped inside an old salt bottle, for fear that if he was poisonous, he could bite me or one of my pets later. But earlier this evening, I figured that even though my yard is small, it's still big enough that letting him go in the corner probably wouldn't hurt anything, and I kept thinking about his little sock monkey face, so he was freed.

I did notice that he jumped when I was trying to get him into my container earlier, but I've seen lots of spiders jump, so I didn't think anything of it. Maybe I've just seen the other sex of this same spider species. In any case, I hope he's catching up on a good meal, since he spent several hours this afternoon on lockdown.

Oh, and I AM afraid of spiders. Quite afraid of them, in fact, but I really was worried this one was a "bad" one, so he needed to be caught. Despite being scared of all of them, when they're in the house, I do usually try to catch them and let them go outside. Not only because they're beneficial in eating other icky bugs, but because I'm not a fan of killing anything that needn't be killed (although I've done my fair share of that, especially in the garden...).

We used to have jumping spiders at our house in TX (though I don't think I've ever seen one this color). We had one that lived on the wall behind a clock for a long time. Unfortunately, my stepkids didn't share my attitude toward the furry little guy. I was kind of sad when I saw they had smushed him. He just seemed to stay on the one wall and never caused any trouble. Even when DSS lived with us during high school I'm not sure I ever convinced him that you really DON'T have to smash the spiders.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tales of a Transplanted Gardener

Ours here in Texas seem bigger, up to 3/4 inch, and are black. There are an amazing number in my greenhouse even though I can't see much to eat. But maybe that's why I can't see much else. Works good for me.

The Fruitnut

A lot of jumping spidies here in WI, too. They don't bother me too much, except for the ones that end up living in the car and inevitably drop down in front of you when you're driving! It's the big brown house spiders that scare the carp out of me, but I've learned to 'catch and release' over the years.

I love jumping spiders, they seem to hang around and wait for you to stir up aphids and such. A little like the robins that wait in the other half of my garden until I finish digging the bed and finding earthworms for them.

Big fan of the jumpers here. In summer I am often plagued by house flies all over the yard and in the house. Can't stand them. These jumpers are actually able to catch flies. Every time I see one with a fly in it's mouth parts I get happy. The ones around here are largely brown/black, but same thing more or less.

They are one of the few spiders that I welcome in my house. They don't make webs as others have noted so they are pretty clean house guests.

While they may be capable of biting I have handled them many times as have some of my kids and never have we been bitten by a jumper so it's not something I worry about at all. Too bad nature doesn't make a larger sized version, I would think they would make really cool pets that could be allowed free roam of the house. Might have to train the dogs to leave them alone, but still.

Living in coastal CA you don't have to worry about spiders that bite. There is a non-native spider in the Seattle area that bites and a less-poisonous version of the brown recluse that lives in the Imperial Valley and down into Mexico, but otherwise, spiders in this part of the country are your friends.

We have black widows though. Or rather, we've had ONE black widow, once, lol. I saw it when I was a kid, and left it alone.

Now I wish I'd let the jumper go closer to the house. I have collards growing in a planter by the kitchen door, and it's continuously plagued by aphids on my collards. It would have been nice to have a good guy on my side to help battle them. Oh well, maybe he'll show back up again soon or tell his friends to come visit.

We somehow have accumulated one from the UK called the hobo spider, but other than the brown recluse and the black widow, I don't think there are any more.

Scorpions are poisonous, and they are arachnids.

if it happened to be turned facing me, it'd start moving it's mouth parts up and down like it was threatening to bite me. Nasty little bugger.

They do that as a signal to other jumping spiders. He was trying out his pickup lines.

And if you saw one, you have lots of them. They are aggressive bug-eaters.

Reaaaaallllly, now. I've had a lot of creeps try and pick me up, but that's a new one.

I agree with all that has been said and probably wouldn't have even commented but for one reason. I think it should be noted that your pictures are simply fantastic. It sure is nice to look at a good, clear photo of the "topic of discussion".

Well done spaghetina.

Enjoy Jumpie.

Rick

Thanks, Rick. I was having a heck of a time getting my lens focused on him, and basically completely forgot how to use my DSLR the second I picked it up that day, hence some blurriness, but I'm glad you enjoyed the photos! :)

When it looked like it was threatening to bite you it was really trying to communicate. Jumping spiders 'talk' to each other by waving their pedipalps (the parts that make the side of the mouth) around. I remember reading this in a National Geographic several years ago. When I see those spiders I put my hands up by my face and wave my index fingers around. It's funny to see their reactions sometimes.

When I see those spiders I put my hands up by my face and wave my index fingers around. It's funny to see their reactions sometimes.

ROFL!!! At least I am not the only one that does weird stuff out in the garden!

Sometimes the lizards do there pushups and I will do a knee bend in response. They take notice and display like I was another lizard.

Have to try the spider thing though. :)

A knee bend in response, LOL!!

Now I kind of wish I had one of these guys as a pet. The more you all are telling me about them, the cuter they get. Wonder what he had to say. I bet it was interesting. Either that, or it was something like, "OMG, please don't kill me! You're huge! I'm little! AAAAHHHH!"

Now I'm wishing I had lizards in my garden! The snakes just don't seem to have anything to say to me.
I always wonder if I am tellin the spider to jump on me. They haven't done it yet. I think I'd have to go change my underwear if one did!

Hah! I was thinking about that. They can supposedly jump like 30 times their own length, which is pretty darned far. As cute as this little guy is, I'm not sure I'd want to encourage him to leap at me. That's just asking for an instant shriek-fest.

The spiders conversation may have been interesting but not as much as this string. It has been educational, humorous and artistic. I've seen jumping spiders before but never paid much attention to them. I've never seen one with such pretty colors.
Someone mentioned that all spiders are poisonous but not agressive. I've read that the Daddy Long Legs has perhaps the most toxic venin but it's fangs cannot penetrate the human skin.

Oh my, have the spider jump on me? Yep, I would have to change my undies too! I dont mind spiders we have an abundance of yellow orbs this year but not jumping on me!

I once did the knee bend thing to a male lizard that was courting a female. They really arnt too bright. The female came running over to me (thought I was a bigger male?) and the male turned color and ran at me like he was going to attack! I thought my hubby was going to split a seam laughing.

The snakes dont seem to have a language you can join into. They just lay there and wait for me to go away.