Sassacus vitis seems quite unlike its congener S. cyaneus. In fact the history of its synonomy includes some indecision about exactly where this species belongs. Behavioral (courtship) similarities and DNA evidence, however, have resulted in its present classification. While certainly not a beetle mimic like S. cyaneus both sport iridescent scales. This jumper’s range is western as opposed to the easterner S. cyaneus. Most experienced naturalists are aware of Texas magic. Whether it’s the Mexican specialties of the Rio Grande Valley, the Edwards Plateau Hill Country with its limestone bedrock, or the Chihuahuan desert and Chisos mountains of Big Bend, Texas always has something new for the naturalist. I was fortunate to find the male S. vitis not in one of the natural areas mentioned above, but within the city limits of Austin. Arthropod aficionados headed for the Austin area should peruse the online site Austin Bug Collection, a useful resource with 4 pages devoted to the local salticids. The female shown in the video was also found in Texas at the Edinburg Wetlands in the Rio Grande Valley.
Richman, 2008; Valerie’s Austin Bug Collection