Red-backed Jumping Spider (Phidippus johnsoni)

The Red-backed jumping spider is one of the most commonly encountered jumping spiders of Western North America. I see them mostly under rocks and wood. This is where they typically construct their tubular nests. These nests are where they like to hang out to escape from bad weather, molt, lay eggs, and sometimes courtship/mating will take place in these nests. These spiders feed primarily on other small insects such as flies, moths, and caterpillars. There have been observations of these spiders eating other red-backed jumping spiders as well.