Jumping Spiders
Copper sun jumper (Heliophanus cupreus)
Web: Jumping spiders don’t make catching webs, but use their large and well developed eyes to spot their prey from far away, sneak closer and pounce it using their short and powerful legs.
Habitat: on low to medium high vegetation or on the ground. Often on sunny places such as forest edges, but also in gardens.
How to recognize:
- small, compact spider
- ♀: black spider with greenish to copper metallic sheen
- ♀: abdomen with in front a light coloured band
- ♀: light yellow palps and light brown legs, finely annulated
- ♂: completely black with metallic sheen
Looks similar to:
- other Heliophanus species. The lighter spots are often very variable, making them an unreliable characteristic.
Size
♀: 4-6 mm
♂: 3,5-4mm
When?
♀: May till July
♂: May till July
Fencepost jumping spider (Marpissa muscosa)
Web: Jumping spiders don’t make catching webs, but use their large and well developed eyes to spot their prey from far away, sneak closer and pounce it with their short and strong legs. The Fencepost jumping spider sometimes catches prey that are much bigger than itself, including other spiders.
Habitat: on logs, but also on fences, gates, garden sheds and walls. Often on sunny or partially shaded places.
How to recognize:
- largest native jumping spider
- oblong body
- short, sturdy legs, front legs thickened
- colour grey brown to dark brown
- abdomen with light and dark symmetrical spots
- the female has an orange stripe (hairs) underneath the frontal eyes.
Looks similar to:
- Upon close inspection, this species is hard to confuse with any other jumping spider.
Size
♀: 8-11 mm
♂: 6-8 mm
When?
♀: April till September
♂: April till September
Fleecy jumping spider (Pseudeuophrys lanigera)
Web: Jumping spiders don’t make catching webs, but use their large and well developed eyes to spot their prey from far away, sneak closer and pounce it with their short and strong legs.
Habitat: almost exclusively on buildings: on walls, roofs, fences, is frequently found inside.
How to recognize:
- short, compact spider
- cephalothorax black, with characteristic triangle of white hairs
- abdomen dark with lighter mid band.
Looks similar to:
- Hypositticus pubescens and both are often found in the same habitat. The Fleecy jumping spider has on the cephalothorax a light triangle while Hypositticus pubescens has spots.
Size
♀: 4-6 mm
♂: 4-5 mm
When?
♀: indoor: throughout the year, outdoor: peak May till July
♂: indoor: throughout the year, outdoor: peak May till July
Hypositticus pubescens
Web: Jumping spiders don’t make catching webs, but use their large and well developed eyes to spot their prey from far away, sneak closer and pounce it with their short and powerful legs.
Habitat: often near buildings: on walls, roofs, fences, but also on rocks and logs.
How to recognize:
- small, compact spider
- colour grey brown to dark brown
- cephalothorax: mostly one conspicuous spot between the hind eyes.
Looks similar to:
- the Fleecy jumping spider and are often found in the same habitat. The Fleecy jumping spider has a light triangle on the cephalothorax while Hypositticus pubescens has spots.
Size
♀: 4-6 mm
♂: 4-5 mm
When?
♀: May till August
♂: May till August
Zebra jumping spider (Salticus scenicus)
Web: Jumping spiders don’t make catching webs, but use their large and well developed eyes to spot their prey from far away, sneak closer and pounce it with their short and strong legs.
Habitat: is very often found on walls and fences, sometimes in houses close to a window. Also on stones, rocks and logs.
How to recognize:
- very recognizable by the black and white pattern
- small, compact spider
- ♂: male with enlarged, black jaws
Looks similar to:
- In Belgium, there are three more Salticus species with a similar drawing.
Size
♀: 5-7 mm
♂: 5-7mm
When?
♀: May till July
♂: May till June
