Attinella concolor (Banks, 1895)
Previously Sitticus concolor. A close relative of Attulus fasciger and recently removed from Sitticus. See details in Maddison et al. 2020 and A. fasciger here.
Those of us with an inclination to learn about jumping spiders or other critters less in vogue may have to dig a bit deeper but we are well served by the www. Historical records, current data bases, even day-to-day sightings on listserves provide detailed species records. In fact, our own observations and records can add useful information to this resource as well. This video of Attinella concolor is one component of what may be the first confirmed record (but see Murray’s record cited below) for this jumping spider in Massachusetts. Critical to making any record useful are a name (and contact info), a date, and a place (county and state). This information published online with a reference for an archived specimen or a published photograph or video create a useful record. Arachnologists traditionally rely on specimens archived in museum collections. If you are inclined to collect even a few spiders there is likely a museum in your region that will archive your material. With many species a close-up image (still or video) and data accessible on the www constitute a usable record for many purposes. Tom Murray is well known for his excellent photographs of insect and spider. Many can be found on BugGuide and PBase as well as in his recently published field guide. His 2005 photograph (link below) shows what is very likely an immature A. concolor. Because the image includes basic associated data, Murray’s record is a candidate for first Massachusetts record. Criteria for “confirmed” status may differ depending on where and how the record is to be used. Because A. concolor is a new species for Massachusetts I am referencing both Murray’s and my records.
For recent taxonomy see Maddison et al., 2020 Sitticine jumping spiders.
Murray, 2012; Tom Murray’s image of S. concolor; Richman, Cutler & Hill, 2012
Massachusetts – First State / County Records
- ♦ T. Murray – Sitticus concolor – Middlesex (Wayland), August 2005 – BugGuide node #30170
- ♦ *D. Walton / FSCA – S. c. – Middlesex (Concord), July 2011 – pers comm. G. B. Edwards, 2011
- ♦ Connecticut – S. floridanus – Kaston, 1948: 459, 2 records
- *Included here are both Tom Murray’s record documented by his photograph (see BugGuide link above) as well as my 2011 record documented by a specimen identified by G. B. Edwards and archived at FSCA (the video seen here shows the same spider).
- Prószyński, J. 1980. Revision of the spider genus Sitticus Simon, 1901 (Aranei, Salticidae), IV. Sitticus floricola (C. L. Koch) group. Annales zoologici, Warszawa 36 (1): 1-35, figures 1-98.