Common Housefly Catcher

Natural history and identification

Plexippus petersi is a visually hunting jumping spider. Published observations document a female capturing a Hersilia spider, demonstrating that its prey can include other spiders as well as insects. That observation was made outside Hawaiʻi and is evidence of feeding capability, not a measured Kauaʻi diet. The account includes photographs of the hunting sequence, useful for understanding behavior but insufficient to distinguish all similar Plexippus in a casual photograph. Local occurrence and feeding evidence should be evaluated separately.

Kauaʻi occurrence and evidence

Atlas occurrence category: Present. The Kauaʻi record is classified as “Present”. Its cited evidence source is iNaturalist Kauaʻi checklist.

Evidence limits

The cited observations describe the evidence currently available for this account. They do not establish a complete life history or a measured current Kauaʻi population trend.

Names and classification

Scientific name

Plexippus petersi

Common names

Common Housefly Catcher

Family

Salticidae

Order

Araneae

Record type

species

Kauaʻi occurrence and status

Kauaʻi occurrence

Present

Origin

Unknown

Conservation status

Not assessed

Process and seasonal context

Seasonal description

Plexippus petersi is a visually hunting jumping spider.

Sources and further reading

• iNaturalist Kauaʻi checklist
• Natural history and identification — species source