Jon Hawkins Surrey Hills Photography / Zebra jumping spider
Species of the Month: Zebra jumping spider
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Jon Hawkins Surrey Hills Photography / Zebra jumping spider
Species of the Month: Zebra jumping spider
Scientific name: Salticus scenicus
Layers
Identification
The zebra jumping spider really is the archetypal ‘itzy bitzy’ spider being only 5 – 7 mm (males) and 5 – 7mm (females).
This is an easily identifiable spider as it has black and white markings like the stripes of a zebra, although sometimes the white can form an ‘X’ shaped pattern on the cephalothorax (front part of the body) of the female.
The front part of the body is square and relatively large and on the head is a row of four eyes which enable them to see all around them. The largest pair of eyes help the spider to see very clearly and in great detail, while the secondary eyes are for tracking movement and depth perception.
The male has elongated jaws which are used in courtship as well as in fights with other males.
Diet
These active daytime hunters are carnivores, catching insects including mosquitoes, fruit flies and in particular the true flies (Diptera) and it can feed on prey three times larger than itself.
They stalk their prey, creeping up to within striking distance, before pouncing on it and injecting venom.
Behaviour
The zebra jumping spider doesn’t spin a web, instead it is an active daytime hunter which stalks its prey, creeping up on it before pouncing on it. At night it disappears into a silken cell made in a hole.
Mating occurs during late spring or early summer. The males attract the females using a jerky, zig-zagging dance while waving their legs in the air. After mating the female finds a sheltered site under stones or debris and spins a silk cocoon in which to lay between 15 and 25 eggs which she guards until they hatch about three or four weeks later. She takes care of the spiderlings until they moult, and then they are left to fend for themselves.
Spiderlings undergo nine or ten moults altogether, overwintering after the penultimate one as sub-adults to become adults the following spring.
Did you know?
The zebra jumping spider is in the largest spider family in the world – the Salticidae along with over 5000 other different types of jumping spider.
The name Salticus means ‘dancing’ or ‘jumping’ in latin and refers to the hunting behaviour while scenicus means ‘theatrical’ which possibly refers to its colouration.
They jump by explosively straightening their back legs. Their legs don’t have extensor muscles, so they use the pressure of their body fluid (haemolymph) instead. When ready to jump they force this fluid into their back legs which forces a rapid leg extension enabling them to jump more than ten times their own body length. That would be like a human who is six foot tall being able to jump 60 feet - roughly the length of a sperm whale or bowling alley!
The spider will attach silk to the substrate which acts as a safety line if the jump fails so it can get back to the starting point.
Although jumping spiders can give a painful nip, this is harmless and non-venomous to humans.
It is possible to entice a jumping zebra spider to jump by holding a fly or small insect in front of them!
Where can they be found?
The zebra jumping spider is common and widespread in the southern half of Britain but becomes less abundant further north and in Wales and Scotland. Adult males are usually found from April to July, and females from March to October.
It can be found in and around houses and buildings, usually hunting on sunny walls, windowsills, fences, or trees, particularly on vertical surfaces. A sign they are present might include crossing lines of silk over the surface.
How can I help?
You can help all spiders by thinking of them as gardener’s friends and help them by making sure there are safe habitats for them such as leaving leaf litter, log piles, long grass and untidy areas so they have shelter and places to hunt or breed.
Provide a diverse range of plants and vegetation so there is a range of insects for them to feed on which offers greater stability in food supply.
Avoid the use of pesticides as these can harm spiders and kill their prey. Spiders are natural ‘pest’ controllers!
For tips on how to help wildlife in your garden or other green space please visit our wildlife-friendly spaces webpage. If you have already created a wildlife-friendly space you might be eligible for one of our awards, please see our website for more details.
Report your sighting
Help us build a more accurate picture of Dorset's wildlife by completing this form. Your records will be sent to DERC on the understanding that the information provided by the recorder will be entered onto a computerised database and may be used for nature conservation, research, education or be available to the general public. Your sighting will also appear on our Species of the Month map. You can change your communications preference at any time by contacting us on 01202 692033.
When you have completed the form, click the Submit button. Please note that once submitted it can take up to an hour for your sighting to populate the map.
