Neon nellii Peckham & Peckham, 1888 - Jumping Spider

More than once, when I have decided to focus on what is for me a new group of animals, I have found in the literature references to species that are said to be common and widespread in my area. While a bit of field work usually turns up most common species, one or two often give me the sense I'm missing what is right under my nose. Such is the case with Neon nellii. Emerton's account states, A common species under stones and leaves at all seasons. Suffice it to say I have lifted several tons of rock and sifted through innumerable piles of leaves with little success finding this spider. And while I have found one N. nellii, Tom Murray seems to find these jumpers at will. The fact that the present species is among the smallest in the northeast may provide a partial explanation but then I'm left pondering Murray's success. No doubt the answer lies in Tom's sharp eyes, time in the field, and dogged persistance.
Emerton, 1891

Massachusetts Records Section Under Construction

• ♦ *BSNH - Neon nellii - Norfolk (Sharon) - Bryant, 1908: 92
• ♦ A. McKenna-Foster / MCZ - N. nellii - Nantucket (NBI Plot), August 2006 - Catalog #126871
• ♦ T. Murray - Neon nelli - Middlesex (Groton), March 2010 - BugGuide node 379916
•  
• ♦ Connecticut - N. nellii - Kaston 1948: 457, 12 records
•  
• *See Bryant, 1908. In his 1891 publication New England spiders of the family Attidae.
  Emerton remarks that this is A common species under stones and leaves at all seasons. Although he is referring to New England and gives no specific Massachusetts data it is likely that Bryant's record above refers to a spider collected by Emerton.
•  

Gertsch, W. J. and W. Ivie. 1955. The spider genus Neon in North America. American Museum Novitates 1743: 1―17.