About Paraphidippus aurantius (Lucas, 1833)
Paraphidippus aurantius (Lucas, 1833) is a species of jumping spider, commonly called the emerald jumping spider or golden jumping spider. This species is a solitary hunter and is fairly large for a jumping spider. Its body can be green or black, with white side stripes on each side of the head, a white border around the top of the abdomen, a midline of hairs running down its center, and small white dots and lines on either side of this midline. The entire genus Phidippus, which contains P. aurantius, lives across North America, with members of the genus found in Mexico, the United States, and parts of South America. When selecting habitat, Paraphidippus aurantius and other members of the Phidippus genus seek shelter from rain and a clear view of their surroundings. A large-surfaced leaf can provide both of these requirements. P. aurantius typically lives on yucca plants and rosette-forming plants, though the host plant species it uses can vary based on the local region it inhabits. The confirmed distribution of Paraphidippus aurantius ranges from the United States to Panama, and it also occurs on the Greater Antilles.
