Sitticus dorsatus
adult female, live |
adult male, live; male coloration is a diagnostic feaure |
female genitalia; epigynum |
male genitalia; palp, ventral view |
grape size comparison with adult spiders; male (left), female (right) |
spiderling, live |
spiderlings, dead; dorsal (left), ventral (right) |
egg sac |
egg sac with scale (cm) |
Current valid name
Sitticus dorsatus (Banks) (family Salticidae)
Recognition and diagnostic features
Mature males are maroon or magenta colored with a white, central, longitudinal stripe on both the cephalothorax and the abdomen. Females are generic looking but have dark brown coloration that is not shared by other jumping spiders in the Central Valley in California.
Related or similar species
Females are nondescript and may be confused with those of the genus Habronattus.
Spider
Body lengths when mature: male: 2.2 mm, female: 3.0 mm
Immatures probably resemble miniature females.
Egg sac
Description: sac made in retreat under bark with female guarding
Number of eggs per sac: one egg sac listed as having 20 eggs
Size of egg: 0.92 ± 0.036 mm
Distribution
In California: southern half of state
Elsewhere: unknown
Native to North America
This species has not been transported or become established outside of its range.
Biology
Solitary hunters. Make egg sacs under bark.
Status in table grapes
Level of Incidence: uncommon
Level of Concern in New Zealand: WPNZ (May 2010) nr, BORIC (Dec 2011) nr (not listed), MAF-BPRA (2002) nr (coding definition)
Level of Concern in Australia: WPAU (2006) nr (coding definition)
Level of Medical importance: none
Common name
None for species, jumping spiders for family
Taxonomic history
Stable, but initially described as Sitticus absolutus.
Selected references
Gertsch, W. J., and S. Mulaik. 1936. Diagnosis of some new southern spiders. Amer. Mus. Novitates #863, 15pp.