White-Jawed Jumping Spider

The White-Jawed Jumping Spider (Hentzia mitrata), belongs to the jumping spider family Salticidae. These spiders are common throughout much of the United States, Canada, and the Bahamas, including Indiana. Most white-jawed jumping spiders are only about 4 millimeters long, making them a relatively small species. Females are somewhat larger than males in size. Usually, their carapaces and abdomens have a light brown or copper color. They acquire their name from the long white hairs that coat their legs and chelicerae, or mouthparts.

They are swift and nimble hunters, just like other jumping spiders. They don't create webs to trap prey. Instead, they leap from a distance and ambush their target before striking them. Since their mouthparts are often too small to pierce human skin due to their small size, their bite is not hazardous to people.