Familiar jumping spider (Platycryptus undatus)

Not in any medically significant way. Like almost all spiders the familiar jumping spider (family Salticidae) has venom for its prey, but it is not a widow or recluse, the two U.S. groups whose bites need medical attention.

Records are spread over 36 states; the top three, Texas, Virginia and Ohio, hold 26% of them. It is the most recorded spider of all in Indiana, Michigan and Rhode Island.

Across the U.S., observation records of the familiar jumping spider run mostly April through October, peaking in August with 15% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 3% of them.

Observation records run through most of the year in Florida. Among states whose main season falls within one calendar year, it starts earliest in February (Louisiana, South Carolina and Virginia) and latest in May (Connecticut, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and New York). The most common peak month is September, shared by Alabama, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland and 3 more.

Texas holds 518 licensed records, the 9th most recorded of 386 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Texas run mostly March through November, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Dallas County, Jackson County and Harris County. Next come Hidalgo County (34) and Travis County (27).

Virginia holds 423 licensed records, the 5th most recorded of 176 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Virginia run mostly February through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Arlington County and Loudoun County. Next come Prince William County (20) and Norfolk (13).

Ohio holds 277 licensed records, the 3rd most recorded of 332 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Ohio run mostly April through September, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Franklin County, Erie County and Montgomery County. Next come Butler County (21) and Cuyahoga County (20).

Indiana holds 271 licensed records, the most recorded of 133 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Indiana run mostly April through September, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Allen County, Lake County and Tippecanoe County. Next come Marion County (19) and Monroe County (15).

Maryland holds 257 licensed records, the 3rd most recorded of 153 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Maryland run mostly April through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Montgomery County, Frederick County and Baltimore County. Next come Howard County (32) and Anne Arundel County (31).

Massachusetts holds 247 licensed records, the 3rd most recorded of 189 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Massachusetts run mostly April through September, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Middlesex County, Dukes County and Barnstable County. Next come Plymouth County (28) and Essex County (27).

Oklahoma holds 243 licensed records, the 2nd most recorded of 149 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Oklahoma run mostly April through October, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Mayes County, Osage County and Tulsa County. Next come Cleveland County (26) and Woodward County (23).

North Carolina holds 242 licensed records, the 4th most recorded of 184 spiders listed there. Its observation records in North Carolina run mostly March through October, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Wake County, Orange County and Cumberland County. Next come Durham County (25) and Dare County (16).

New York holds 211 licensed records, the 6th most recorded of 149 spiders listed there. Its observation records in New York run mostly May through September, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Tompkins County, Westchester County and Onondaga County. Next come Suffolk County (15) and Nassau County (11).

Pennsylvania holds 203 licensed records, the 3rd most recorded of 164 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Pennsylvania run mostly April through September, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Montgomery County, Philadelphia County and Bucks County. Next come Westmoreland County (15) and Chester County (13).

Missouri holds 154 licensed records, the 3rd most recorded of 117 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Missouri run mostly April through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Texas County, St. Louis County and Boone County. Next come Dent County (10) and Johnson County (10).

Michigan holds 153 licensed records, the most recorded of 122 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Michigan run mostly May through September, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Washtenaw County, Allegan County and Bay County. Next come Kalamazoo County (16) and Oakland County (15).

Louisiana holds 151 licensed records, the 5th most recorded of 107 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Louisiana run mostly February through October, peaking in August; most licensed records come from East Baton Rouge Parish, Saint Tammany Parish and Calcasieu Parish. Next come Jefferson Davis Parish (13) and Lafayette Parish (5).

Delaware holds 122 licensed records, the 3rd most recorded of 71 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Delaware run mostly April through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Sussex County, Kent County and New Castle County.

Illinois holds 117 licensed records, the 25th most recorded of 243 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Illinois run mostly April through September, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Champaign County, McLean County and Will County. Next come Kankakee County (8) and DuPage County (6).

Georgia holds 112 licensed records, the 15th most recorded of 186 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Georgia run mostly March through October, peaking in March; most licensed records come from Clarke County, Gwinnett County and DeKalb County. Next come Bryan County (6) and Bartow County (6).

Tennessee holds 108 licensed records, the 5th most recorded of 138 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Tennessee run mostly April through October, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Knox County, Williamson County and Montgomery County. Next come Sevier County (7) and Davidson County (6).

New Jersey holds 104 licensed records, the 3rd most recorded of 127 spiders listed there. Its observation records in New Jersey run mostly April through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Cape May County, Middlesex County and Ocean County. Next come Burlington County (9) and Hunterdon County (8).

Alabama holds 81 licensed records, the joint 9th most recorded of 143 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Alabama run mostly March through November, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Mobile County, Jefferson County and Blount County. Next come Tuscaloosa County (7) and Pickens County (5).

Kansas holds 81 licensed records, the 3rd most recorded of 94 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Kansas run mostly March through September, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Leavenworth County, Douglas County and Shawnee County. Next come Riley County (6) and Wyandotte County (4).

Kentucky holds 75 licensed records, the 5th most recorded of 103 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Kentucky run mostly April through September, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Madison County, Jefferson County and Fayette County. Next come Rowan County (3) and Shelby County (3).

Iowa holds 64 licensed records, the 2nd most recorded of 57 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Iowa run mostly May through September, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Harrison County, Johnson County and Linn County. Next come Shelby County (3) and Allamakee County (2).

Wisconsin holds 60 licensed records, the joint 6th most recorded of 149 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Wisconsin run mostly March through September, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Dane County, Jefferson County and Sauk County. Next come Adams County (2) and Waukesha County (2).

Arkansas holds 48 licensed records, the 3rd most recorded of 114 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Arkansas run mostly March through October, peaking in October; most licensed records come from Craighead County, Benton County and Clay County. Next come Pike County (5) and Mississippi County (3).

Florida holds 44 licensed records, the joint 42nd most recorded of 237 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Alachua County, Escambia County and Clay County. Next come Hillsborough County (3) and Marion County (3).

Most of what is known about the familiar jumping spider is recent: 95% of dated U.S. records were made in 2017–2026, and half date from 2023 or later. The oldest dated record is from 1904; the busiest year was 2025, with 759 records.

Of the 379 counties where the familiar jumping spider is most recorded, 239 are also top counties for the bold jumper, more than for any other spider. None of its closest neighbors is venomous.

Other members of the family Salticidae with profiles here: Bold jumper, Zebra spider, Bronze jumper, Magnolia green jumper, Half-edged wall jumping spider and Twin-flagged jumping spider.