While research on arthropod behavior is continuously advancing, many of these research discoveries never make it into the public consciousness. This is particularly evident in the ongoing fear and lack of knowledge about spiders expressed by many communities. There is pervasive ignorance at what scientists now consider “simple” behaviors (e.g. grooming, communication, etc.), by the public. Regal jumping spiders (Phidippus regius) are an excellent tool to bridge the gap between basic scientific research and common preconceptions of spiders as they are not only an excellent experimental system but are also becoming more common in the pet trade and social media. This presentation will highlight my own research on communication, mate choice, and multiple mating in P. regius as well as how spiders can be used to increase awareness about scientific research and improve public perception on arthropods.
