Bugland: Jumping Jack Flash

The scientific name of this jumping spider is Cosmophasis umbratica, but it’s more commonly called a green iridescent garden jumper. These types of jumpers are commonly spotted on green vegetation — just look for their brilliant flashes of color. They are mostly active when exposed to sunlight in the morning and the earlier side of the afternoon. This iridescent jumping spider was photographed by Park Hill resident Mark Silverstein on Lembeh, an island in Indonesia. However, with about 6,000 described species in this spider family, jumpers can be spotted all over the world, including in your back yard.