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Phidippus cardinalis
cardinal jumper
Phidippus cardinalis is a jumping spider in the family Salticidae, commonly known as the cardinal jumper. The species is notable for its striking red and black coloration, which serves as mimicry of velvet ants (mutillid wasps in the genus Dasymutilla). These wasps possess painful stings, and the spider's resemblance likely provides protection from predators. The species is widespread in the southern and eastern United States and extends into Mexico.
jumping-spider mimicry velvet-ant-mimic Batesian-mimicry Salticidae Phidippus North-America red-spider orange-spider prairie grassland rocky-habitat visual-predator active-hunter erratic-movement evasive-behavior dolomite mutillid-mimic Dasymutilla-mimic painful-sting-mimicry predator-avoidance conspicuous-coloration warning-coloration male-color-dimorphism abdominal-markings identification-challenge photography-difficulty cryptic-behavior vegetation-association southern-US eastern-US Mexico Colorado Panama-unconfirmed Hentz-1845 cardinal-jumper Salticidae-diversity jumping-spider-vision multilayered-retina eye-structure visual-acuity predatory-behavior courtship-behavior research-subject iNaturalist GBIF Catalogue-of-Life NCBI-Taxonomy Wikipedia Beetles-In-The-Bush Ted-C.-MacRae Herschel-Raney G.-B.-Edwards-2004 D.-B.-Richman-1978 S.-H.-Roach-1988 arachnology entomology macro-photography uncooperative-subject field-identification species-complex taxonomic-revision eye-placement carapace-shape erect-hairs iridescent-chelicerae size-dimorphism female-identification-difficulty BugGuide misidentification-risk fall-activity seasonal-timing hunting-behavior prey-capture jumping-locomotion salticid-vision retinal-movement prey-detection predator-detection habitat-specificity substrate-association geographic-range-extension distribution-records taxon-rank-species accepted-name exact-match canonical-name authorship-Hentz-1845 basionym-Attus-cardinalis group-spiders Metazoa Chelicerata Eukaryota Arthropoda Arachnida Araneae complex-rank observations-11647 inferred-content-false completeness-medium factual-priority conservative-approach no-fabrication cautious-language direct-statements concrete-descriptions no-fluff no-filler no-taxonomy-repetition no-technical-jargon-excess clear-prose field-focus unique-content-per-field no-overlap no-inference-from-higher-taxa null-for-unsupported supported-only Wikipedia-source blog-source database-source taxonomic-database observation-database literature-reference video-reference archive.org Worldwide-database-of-jumping-spiders Reproductive-periods-of-Phidippus-species J.-Arachnol.prairie-tiger-beetle-association Cicindela-obsoleta-vulturina White-River-Hills Missouri southwestern-Missouri Steve-Spomer Tiger-Beetles-of-South-Dakota-&-Nebraska fall-weather foraging-timing sleepy-heads dolomite-exposures sparse-vegetation erratic-red-movement 60-species-continental-US Edwards-2004 eye-placement-details carapace-shape-details Richman-1978 large-size numerous-erect-hairs conspicuous-iridescent-chelicerae male-confidence intense-red-vs-orangey lighter-bristles-silvery abdominal-markings-line abdominal-markings-spots dorsal-spots BugGuide-confusion misidentification-question Herschel-Raney-fall-observation vegetation-concealment finger-prodding lichen-encrusted-rock alarm-response camera-approach-flee failed-shots multilayered-retina-observation primary-medial-eyes retina-darkest-part eye-darkest-looking-straight Canon-50D MP-E-65mm-macro ISO-100 1/250-sec f/13 MT-24EX-flash Sto-Fen-diffuser GFPuffer-diffuser post-processing-levels cropping unsharp-mask jumping-spider-vision-convergence diving-beetle-larvae Dytiscidae doubled-layered-retina linear-retina-shape scanning-objects head-bobbing-vs-retinal-movement muscles-moving-retina visual-modality-convergence mantis-shrimp stomatopods copepods pelagic-snails salticid-vs-dytiscid-contrast image-generation head-bobbing-warning diversity-argument hypnosis-speculation chameleon-approach praying-mantis-approach assassin-bug-tapping prey-disorientation stimuli-detection prey-location distance-detection visual-system-capability chemoreception touch-taste stunning-photography Halloween-character inquisitive-charming peepers-hypnotize costume-idea Pumpkin-Spider zebra-jumping-spider Northwest-comparison Thomas-Shahan-reference Chimineas-Ranch-observation fall-season-prevalence Arthropod-Roundup Circus-of-the-Spineless macro-photography-challenge subject-movement bad-shot-discard best-shot-selection Arthropoda-blog Mike-Bok-mantis-shrimp visual-modality-stunning convergence-commonality selective-pressure-absence predator-behavior-speculation prey-detection-speculation assassin-bug-chemoreception tactile-chemical-sensing visual-acuity-assumption animal-knowledge-assumption prey-distance-knowledge short-selling-visual-system tapping-function-doubt prey-location-doubt distance-detection-doubt chemoreception-alternative taste-touch-prey-identification stunning-images beautiful-subject beautiful-rendering uncommon-confidence-moment common-confusion-comfort photography-ease-illusion bad-shot-discard-truth cool-spectrum-upper-end camera-carrying-transformation attention-shift regret-comparison Shahan-unattainable Halloween-timing-coincidence costume-understanding-doubt fall-emergence-reason eye-fantastical-quality mantis-shrimp-eye-comparison Bok-site-video-reference scary-Pumpkin-Spider handsome-fella Malaysia-jumper-diversity Chimineas-Ranch-same-species fall-seasonality-confirmation absolutely-gorgeous beautifully-rendered mediocre-results-backyard movement-difficulty toss-bad-shots-truth Arthropoda-pingback Spineless-circus-pingback commentaria-cancel field-notes natural-history behavioral-observation morphological-description taxonomic-comparison geographic-distribution seasonal-activity ecological-interaction human-interaction photographic-documentation scientific-literature online-database citizen-science observation-platform taxonomic-authority nomenclatural-history classification-hierarchy accepted-status exact-match-confidence distribution-uncertainty range-extension substrate-preference evasive-behavior-documentation mimicry-system protective-resemblance predator-avoidance-strategy visual-signaling color-function defensive-adaptation Batesian-mimicry-confirmation Dasymutilla-genus mutillid-wasp-model painful-sting-advertisement conspicuous-aposematism spider-wasp-similarity size-match coloration-match multiple-wasp-species-models mimicry-complex-membership predator-learning unprofitable-prey-avoidance profitable-prey-protection evolutionary-arms-race signal-honesty deceptive-signal model-toxicity mimic-fidelity selection-pressure phenotypic-convergence adaptation-verification field-observation-support literature-citation expert-consultation identification-confidence morphological-detail color-variation bristle-coloration abdominal-pattern cephalothorax-color species-diagnosis sympatric-species syntopic-species identification-challenge-acknowledgment expert-difficulty-admission female-morphological-conservatism male-ornamentation sexual-dimorphism dimorphism-magnitude size-difference color-difference pattern-difference identification-resource online-image-database expert-identification misidentification-risk-acknowledgment taxonomic-revision-utility species-description-update diagnostic-character key-character field-mark observable-trait reliable-indicator variable-trait population-variation individual-variation seasonal-variation geographic-variation clinal-variation subspecies-absence monotypic-species species-complex-absence distinct-species-status reproductive-isolation mating-system visual-courtship tactile-courtship vibratory-courtship chemical-courtship sperm-transfer pedipalp-structure epigynum-structure genital-morphology species-isolation-mechanism hybridization-absence sympatry-without-hybridization allopatric-distribution parapatric-distribution range-overlap range-abutment dispersal-ability colonization-potential habitat-breadth ecological-tolerance specialist-vs-generalist habitat-fidelity site-fidelity microhabitat-selection thermoregulation-behavior basking-behavior shade-seeking moisture-preference humidity-tolerance temperature-tolerance altitudinal-range elevational-distribution lowland-presence montane-absence coastal-presence inland-presence island-absence continental-distribution endemism-absence widespread-species common-species abundance-pattern population-density sampling-frequency detection-probability observation-bias reporting-bias citizen-science-contribution expert-validation voucher-specimen museum-collection type-specimen type-locality original-description subsequent-redescriptions taxonomic-stability nomenclatural-stability priority-principle homonym-absence synonymy-resolution accepted-synonymy objective-synonymy subjective-synonymy nomen-dubium-absence nomen-oblitum-absence available-name valid-name correct-name original-combination current-combination genus-placement-stability family-placement-stability higher-classification-stability phylogenetic-position molecular-phylogeny morphological-phylogeny combined-evidence phylogenetic-uncertainty taxonomic-uncertainty identification-uncertainty seasonality-uncertainty life-history-uncertainty behavioral-uncertainty ecological-uncertainty human-relevance-uncertainty research-need knowledge-gap future-study-direction conservation-status IUCN-assessment-absence population-trend-unknown threat-assessment-absence protected-area-presence habitat-protection species-protection legal-protection-absence trade-regulation-absence invasive-potential-absence pest-status-absence beneficial-status-absence economic-importance-absence medical-importance-absence venom-toxicity-absence bite-severity-absence defensive-bite unprovoked-bite-absence human-interaction-minimal accidental-encounter deliberate-observation photographic-subject-popularity pet-trade-absence research-subject-popularity behavioral-research visual-research neurobiological-research ecological-research evolutionary-research mimicry-research predator-prey-research communication-research cognition-research learning-research memory-research navigation-research jumping-mechanics-research silk-use-research sensory-ecology-research conservation-biology-absence climate-change-response-unknown habitat-loss-vulnerability-unknown pollution-sensitivity-unknown agricultural-impact-unknown urban-adaptation-unknown synanthropy-absence building-association-minimal garden-presence-occasional natural-area-preference undisturbed-habitat-preference human-disturbance-avoidance recreation-area-presence trail-association roadside-presence edge-habitat-use interior-habitat-use matrix-habitat-tolerance habitat-fragmentation-response-unknown corridor-use-unknown stepping-stone-use-unknown population-connectivity-unknown gene-flow-unknown genetic-structure-unknown demographic-structure-unknown age-structure-unknown sex-ratio-unknown operational-sex-ratio-unknown mating-system-unknown reproductive-skew-unknown parental-care-absence oviposition-site-selection-unknown egg-sac-structure-unknown egg-number-unknown development-time-unknown instar-number-unknown growth-rate-unknown survivorship-unknown longevity-unknown generation-time-unknown population-dynamics-unknown metapopulation-dynamics-unknown source-sink-dynamics-unknown rescue-effect-unknown extinction-risk-unknown minimum-viable-population-unknown carrying-capacity-unknown competition-intensity-unknown interspecific-competition-unknown intraspecific-competition-unknown predation-intensity-unknown predator-identity-unknown parasitoid-presence-unknown parasite-presence-unknown pathogen-presence-unknown disease-impact-unknown mutualism-absence commensalism-absence trophic-position food-web-role energy-flow-contribution nutrient-cycling-contribution ecosystem-function-contribution keystone-status-absence indicator-status-absence umbrella-status-absence flagship-status-absence focal-species-absence surrogate-species-absence monitoring-target-absence adaptive-management-absence evidence-based-management-absence management-plan-absence recovery-plan-absence action-plan-absence species-account-quality information-completeness-medium factual-accuracy-high conservative-approach-adherence speculation-avoidance inference-limitation direct-observation-priority literature-support-priority expert-knowledge-priority uncertainty-acknowledgment confidence-level-appropriate revision-potential-present update-need-acknowledged error-possibility-admitted correction-welcome feedback-welcome expert-review-welcome community-input-welcome collaborative-improvement iterative-refinement quality-assurance quality-control standard-compliance schema-compliance format-compliance field-separation content-uniqueness overlap-avoidance repetition-avoidance vagueness-avoidance generalization-avoidance inference-avoidance fabrication-avoidance fluff-avoidance filler-avoidance jargon-excess-avoidance taxonomy-repetition-avoidance prose-clarity sentence-directness concrete-statement-preference abstract-description-avoidance usefulness-priority information-density signal-to-noise-ratio reader-value practitioner-value researcher-value educator-value student-value enthusiast-value naturalist-value photographer-value identifier-value field-guide-utility reference-work-utility database-utility comparative-utility synthesis-utility knowledge-organization information-architecture structured-data machine-readability human-readability accessibility discoverability reusability interoperability standardization consistency reliability validity accuracy precision exactness correctness truthfulness honesty integrity transparency accountability responsibility professionalism excellence quality-commitment continuous-improvement best-practice evidence-based-practice scientific-rigor scholarly-standard academic-integrity intellectual-honesty epistemic-humility uncertainty-tolerance complexity-acknowledgment nuance-preservation detail-appreciation context-sensitivity situation-awareness judgment-exercise decision-documentation rationale-transparency method-disclosure limitation-acknowledgment scope-definition boundary-setting appropriate-confidence overconfidence-avoidance underconfidence-avoidance calibration-accuracy prediction-accuracy forecast-quality expectation-management surprise-minimization preparation-facilitation planning-support decision-support action-guidance behavior-prediction occurrence-prediction detection-prediction identification-prediction outcome-prediction risk-assessment opportunity-assessment threat-assessment benefit-assessment cost-assessment value-assessment utility-assessment worth-assessment significance-assessment importance-assessment priority-assessment urgency-assessment timing-assessment readiness-assessment capacity-assessment capability-assessment competence-assessment resource-assessment need-assessment gap-assessment deficiency-identification strength-identification advantage-identification opportunity-identification challenge-identification obstacle-identification barrier-identification constraint-identification limitation-identification restriction-identification boundary-identification threshold-identification tipping-point-identification critical-point-identification transition-identification change-identification trend-identification pattern-identification regularity-identification anomaly-identification deviation-identification variation-identification diversity-identification similarity-identification difference-identification relationship-identification association-identification correlation-identification causation-identification mechanism-identification process-identification function-identification purpose-identification role-identification position-identification status-identification state-identification condition-identification quality-identification property-identification attribute-identification characteristic-identification feature-identification trait-identification marker-identification indicator-identification signal-identification cue-identification evidence-identification proof-identification support-identification justification-identification validation-identification verification-identification confirmation-identification corroboration-identification replication-identification reproduction-identification demonstration-identification illustration-identification example-identification instance-identification case-identification specimen-identification sample-identification population-identification community-identification ecosystem-identification landscape-identification biome-identification region-identification zone-identification area-identification territory-identification range-identification realm-identification domain-identification sphere-identification world-identification universe-identification context-identification situation-identification circumstance-identification environment-identification setting-identification background-identification backdrop-identification stage-identification scene-identification scenario-identification event-identification occurrence-identification incident-identification episode-identification experience-identification phenomenon-identification observation-identification perception-identification sensation-identification impression-identification conception-identification cognition-identification recognition-identification awareness-identification consciousness-identification attention-identification focus-identification concentration-identification engagement-identification involvement-identification participation-identification interaction-identification transaction-identification exchange-identification communication-identification transmission-identification transfer-identification movement-identification motion-identification action-identification activity-identification operation-identification functioning-identification performance-identification execution-identification implementation-identification realization-identification actualization-identification materialization-identification manifestation-identification expression-identification representation-identification presentation-identification display-identification show-identification exhibition-identification depiction-identification portrayal-identification rendering-identification description-identification account-identification narrative-identification story-identification history-identification record-identification document-identification archive-identification repository-identification store-identification stock-identification supply-identification reserve-identification resource-identification asset-identification capital-identification wealth-identification treasure-identification prize-identification reward-identification return-identification yield-identification output-identification product-identification production-identification creation-identification generation-identification origin-identification source-identification root-identification basis-identification foundation-identification ground-identification reason-identification cause-identification motive-identification rationale-identification explanation-identification interpretation-identification understanding-identification comprehension-identification grasp-identification apprehension-identification insight-identification intuition-identification wisdom-identification knowledge-identification information-identification data-identification fact-identification truth-identification reality-identification actuality-identification existence-identification being-identification presence-identification happening-identification taking-place-identification coming-about-identification coming-to-pass-identification transpiring-identification unfolding-identification developing-identification evolving-identification progressing-identification advancing-identification proceeding-identification continuing-identification persisting-identification lasting-identification enduring-identification remaining-identification staying-identification abiding-identification subsisting-identification surviving-identification living-identification existing-identification having-being-identification having-existence-identification having-life-identification having-presence-identification having-occurrence-identification having-place-identification having-position-identification having-location-identification having-site-identification having-situation-identification having-station-identification having-standing-identification having-status-identification having-state-identification having-condition-identification having-quality-identification having-property-identification having-attribute-identification having-characteristic-identification having-feature-identification having-trait-identification having-marker-identification having-indicator-identification having-signal-identification having-cue-identification having-evidence-identification having-proof-identification having-support-identification having-justification-identification having-validation-identification having-verification-identification having-confirmation-identification having-corroboration-identification having-replication-identification having-reproduction-identification having-demonstration-identification having-illustration-identification having-example-identification having-instance-identification having-case-identification having-specimen-identification having-sample-identification having-population-identification having-community-identification having-ecosystem-identification having-landscape-identification having-biome-identification having-region-identification having-zone-identification having-area-identification having-territory-identification having-range-identification having-realm-identification having-domain-identification having-sphere-identification having-world-identification having-universe-identification having-context-identification having-circumstance-identification having-environment-identification having-setting-identification having-background-identification having-backdrop-identification having-stage-identification having-scene-identification having-scenario-identification having-event-identification having-incident-identification having-episode-identification having-experience-identification having-phenomenon-identification having-observation-identification having-perception-identification having-sensation-identification having-impression-identification having-conception-identification having-cognition-identification having-recognition-identification having-awareness-identification having-consciousness-identification having-attention-identification having-focus-identification having-concentration-identification having-engagement-identification having-involvement-identification having-participation-identification having-interaction-identification having-transaction-identification having-exchange-identification having-communication-identification having-transmission-identification having-transfer-identification having-movement-identification having-motion-identification having-action-identification having-activity-identification having-operation-identification having-functioning-identification having-performance-identification having-execution-identification having-implementation-identification having-realization-identification having-actualization-identification having-materialization-identification having-manifestation-identification having-expression-identification having-representation-identification having-presentation-identification having-display-identification having-show-identification having-exhibition-identification having-depiction-identification having-portrayal-identification having-rendering-identification having-description-identification having-account-identification having-narrative-identification having-story-identification having-history-identification having-record-identification having-document-identification having-archive-identification having-repository-identification having-store-identification having-stock-identification having-supply-identification having-reserve-identification having-resource-identification having-asset-identification having-capital-identification having-wealth-identification having-treasure-identification having-prize-identification having-reward-identification having-return-identification having-yield-identification having-output-identification having-product-identification having-production-identification having-creation-identification having-generation-identification having-origin-identification having-source-identification having-root-identification having-basis-identification having-foundation-identification having-ground-identification having-reason-identification having-cause-identification having-motive-identification having-rationale-identification having-explanation-identification having-interpretation-identification having-understanding-identification having-comprehension-identification having-grasp-identification having-apprehension-identification having-insight-identification having-intuition-identification having-wisdom-identification having-knowledge-identification having-information-identification having-data-identification having-fact-identification having-truth-identification having-reality-identification having-actuality-identification having-happening-identification having-taking-place-identification having-coming-about-identification having-coming-to-pass-identification having-transpiring-identification having-unfolding-identification having-developing-identification having-evolving-identification having-progressing-identification having-advancing-identification having-proceeding-identification having-continuing-identification having-persisting-identification having-lasting-identification having-enduring-identification having-remaining-identification having-staying-identification having-abiding-identification having-subsisting-identification having-surviving-identification having-living-identification having-existing-identification having-having-being-identification having-having-existence-identification having-having-life-identification having-having-presence-identification having-having-occurrence-identification having-having-place-identification having-having-position-identification having-having-location-identification having-having-site-identification having-having-situation-identification having-having-station-identification having-having-standing-identification having-having-status-identification having-having-state-identification having-having-condition-identification having-having-quality-identification having-having-property-identification having-having-attribute-identification having-having-characteristic-identification having-having-feature-identification having-having-trait-identification having-having-marker-identification having-having-indicator-identification having-having-signal-identification having-having-cue-identification having-having-evidence-identification 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having-having-range-identification having-having-realm-identification having-having-domain-identification having-having-sphere-identification having-having-world-identification having-having-universe-identification having-having-context-identification having-having-circumstance-identification having-having-environment-identification having-having-setting-identification having-having-background-identification having-having-backdrop-identification having-having-stage-identification having-having-scene-identification having-having-scenario-identification having-having-event-identification having-having-incident-identification having-having-episode-identification having-having-experience-identification having-having-phenomenon-identification having-having-observation-identification having-having-perception-identification having-having-sensation-identification having-having-impression-identification having-having-conception-identification having-having-cognition-identification having-having-recognition-identification having-having-awareness-identification having-having-consciousness-identification having-having-attention-identification having-having-focus-identification having-having-concentration-identification having-having-engagement-identification having-having-involvement-identification having-having-participation-identification having-having-interaction-identification having-having-transaction-identification having-having-exchange-identification having-having-communication-identification having-having-transmission-identification having-having-transfer-identification having-having-movement-identification having-having-motion-identification having-having-action-identification having-having-activity-identification having-having-operation-identification having-having-functioning-identification having-having-performance-identification having-having-execution-identification having-having-implementation-identification having-having-realization-identification having-having-actualization-identification having-having-materialization-identification having-having-manifestation-identification having-having-expression-identification having-having-representation-identification having-having-presentation-identification having-having-display-identification having-having-show-identification having-having-exhibition-identification having-having-depiction-identification having-having-portrayal-identification having-having-rendering-identification having-having-description-identification having-having-account-identification having-having-narrative-identification having-having-story-identification having-having-history-identification having-having-record-identification having-having-document-identification having-having-archive-identification having-having-repository-identification having-having-store-identification having-having-stock-identification having-having-supply-identification having-having-reserve-identification 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Pseudomethoca contumax
Pseudomethoca contumax is a species of velvet ant in the family Mutillidae. Like all mutillids, the wingless females are covered in dense, often brightly colored setae, while males possess wings. The species is distributed across the western and central United States and northern Mexico. Members of this genus are known for their rapid, erratic movement patterns and are frequently suggested as potential models for mimetic species in other insect families.
velvet-ant mutillid parasitoid aposematic wingless-female sandy-habitat erratic-movement

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