So I have been identifying Jumping Spiders (Salticidae) for a few months now, but I feel like I’ve hit a roadblock. I have no idea where or how to find methods for identification. I don’t know if I’m wording this right, but it seems like there are a few people who can just look at a Salticid and go …

There are a decent number of identification guides for jumping spiders online. It depends a good bit on where you are located in the world though. You might take a look at this post from a little while ago: https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/what-free-online-resources-do-you-use-to-help-id-what-you…

Easiest way to identify spiders to species is by their genitals. Yeah, not the easiest, although the most accurate. This works only if you’ve also analyzed their colours, patterns, and size/shape.

In North America, I often start by scanning this page on BugGuide: https://bugguide.net/node/view/1962#body Most species have two photos, one of an adult male the other of an adult female.

Via dissection or taking a close up? I don’t want to harm any that I find

more often than not genitalia dissection is the only way to determine an insect/spider etc. to species level.

It is often not known how to identify spider species within a genus from photos alone, but it is certainly possible in the vast majority of cases. The tricky bit is that it’s often only possible to learn how to ID from photos by finding enough photographs of living spiders which were later dissected…

There is a wealth of information just looking through existing RG iNat observations, especially ones that have comments. You can look through identifications from knowledgeable folks like salticidude, calebcam, zygy, salttaxa, etc. And learn from the comments they’ve left along with their IDs. Ta…

Honestly, I’m really glad you asked this question @Strawberrytart . I’ve also been in a bit of a stuck place trying to figure out how to identify salticidae given there appear to be a lack of guides similar to the ones edanko made for flies. That is, pointing out various markings and shapes that work…

Are there any knowledgeable folks nearby? A natural science museum, university collection? Often ag extension agencies have staff identifying pests that also know a great deal about other species in their area.

How To Learn To Identify Jumping Spiders More Effectively

Nature Talk

robotpie November 11, 2021, 5:01pm 8

Hey I appreciate this clarification, many thanks.

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How To Learn To Identify Jumping Spiders More Effectively

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