The male and female Phidippus otiosus seen here are the first two records for New Jersey and likely indicate a northern range expansion for this southern spider. Known as the Canopy jumping spider for its arboreal preferences and one of the larger salticids in North America. I located these spiders in a small copse of hackberry and black locust trees. This is a fall maturing species and at one point I saw the male displaying. While the female will at times tolerate the male’s presence in and around her “nest” site (see video), once she mates the male is no longer welcome except as a meal. Typically the female will place her egg sack in a tree cavity or behind bark and the young eclose in spring. Florida forms of this species are often yellowish to orange and at least some seem to be hybrids with P. regius.
Edwards, 2004