Jumping Spiders
There are nearly 40 species of Jumping Spider in the UK. Jumping Spiders are small and stocky in build with short legs and are recognised by their square-fronted carapaces and large forward-facing eyes. Jumping Spiders do not build webs to catch their prey. As their name suggests they have the ability to jump and launch themselves through the air at great speed. They can use this ability to 'jump' to catch prey or evade predators. Most Jumping Spider species in the UK are diurnal and prefer dry sunny locations. They can often be readily identified by their short jerky movements when walking.
Jumping Spiders have four pairs of eyes, two of which are front facing. One pair of the front facing eyes are extremely large. These huge front-facing eyes are used for gathering a detailed image enabling the spider to identify potential prey and judging distance when jumping onto their prey. Before the spider jumps it attaches a web line which it can use to enable it to return to the same spot again. Zebra Jumping Spiders are small with a maximum body-length of 5-7mm. They are stocky in build with short, thick legs. If you approach a Jumping Spider, it will often lift its head and follow your movements closely with its big eyes. British Arachnological Society Factsheet
Female Zebra Jumping Spider (Salticus cf scenicus)
Zebra Jumping Spider (Salticus scenicus)
The Zebra Jumping Spider is a common jumping spider found across the UK, often in urban and suburban areas. They can also been found on heathland and farmland sites too. They are often seen sunning themselves on walls, rocks, tree-trunks or fences. Jumping Spiders do not make webs. Instead they jump onto their prey with great accuracy and quickly inflict a lethal venomous bite to their unsuspecting victims. They are reported to jump up to 10cm, but I have observed one jumping almost twice that distance in a downward direction landing directly on a fly which was killed instantly with an immediate bite.
There are three Salticus species, known as Zebra Jumping Spiders, in the UK, and all are variable in appearance, especially Salticus scenicus, which can be highly variable, so it's very difficult to be sure of the exact species without microscopic examination. Salticus scenicus is by far the most commonly encountered species of the three and can be found in varies habitats across the UK.
Female Zebra Jumping Spider (Salticus cf scenicus) with lunch, found in my kitchen in May.
Male Zebra Jumping Spider (Salticus cf scenicus)
Males can be distinguished from females by the possession of huge jaws which they use for wrestling with each other to compete for mating rights to a female.
Male Zebra Jumping Spider (Salticus cf scenicus) found on my garden shed in SE London 6/5/2019
Female Zebra Jumping Spider (Salticus cf scenicus) - wandering around a Privet Bush in my garden.
Female Zebra Jumping Spider (Salticus cf scenicus)
7mm sub-adult female Zebra Jumping Spider (Salticus sp.) photographed on fence post in SE London, 20th April 2023
Female Zebra Jumping Spider, Salticus sp. Photographed on a castle wall in Kent, 31st August 2022.
A very large 11mm Fencepost Jumping Spider (Marpissa muscosa) found on a fencepost at the edge of ancient oak woodland in Kent, 21st May 2020
Fencepost Jumping Spider (Marpissa muscosa)
The Fencepost Jumping Spider is a nationally scarce species and is one of Britain's largest Jumping Spiders. Males usually grow to 6-8mm and females 8-10mm. At some sites it's not unusual for specimens to exceed these sizes and females have even been recorded at 13mm! The specimen photographed above was well outside of the usual range for a male at 11mm. Fencepost Jumping Spiders are found across much of Europe but have a scattered distribution in the UK. They are most frequently encountered in the SE of England. This species is fairly easy to distinguish from other Jumping Spiders in the UK by their size and their long, slender and flat abdomens. Their typical habitat includes fallen branches, under loose bark of old trees, stone walls, rocks, logs and as their name suggests wooden fenceposts and fences. This species often builds a silky retreat behind loose bark on very old or dead trees. These "nests" can often be found in groups with many specimens choosing to build their hideaway next to another specimen. It has been observed that, as with other species of Marpissa spider, the Fencepost Spider demonstrates a social hierarchy with weaker animals acknowledging their inferiority to larger specimens by strutting their front legs and slowly retreating from the scene.
A very large 12mm Fencepost Jumping Spider (Marpissa muscosa) found on a fencepost ajacent to ancient oak woodland in Kent, 22nd May 2020
A 12mm female Fencepost Jumping Spider (Marpissa muscosa) with beautiful blue eyes, and an 11mm green-eyed male, with very impressive pedipalps.
Both the male and female Marpissa muscosa look fairly similar from above, with the male being darker. However when viewed from the front the differences are very obvious. Both sexes are very hairy, especially their front legs. The male has very enlarged pedipalps whilst the female's pedipalps are covered in very long white hairs.
12mm Female Fencepost Jumping Spider (Marpissa muscosa)
After finding the large male Fencepost Jumping Spider (Marpissa muscosa) on 21st May2020 I decided to go back to the same ancient woodland site in Kent and search for a female.
After searching fenceposts and loose bark on trees for about an hour in vain we decided to take a walk along a large open grassland space adjacent to the woods. Searching fenceposts as we went I soon spotted my first female Fencepost Jumping Spider (Marpissa muscosa). It was a small 4mm female. I took a couple of rushed 'in-situ' shots before it disappeared into a crack in the fencepost. 5 minutes further up the walkway and I found exactly what I was after, a huge 12mm female specimen! Not wanting to risk this one escaping I quickly caught it in a pot and began setting up my white background and lights for some close-up shots.
This is definitely the most beautiful spider I have photographed in the UK. The eyes are stunning! I took photos from all angles before placing the spider on a stone step for some more natural looking shots. The spider had been very well behaved until now. But the wind was picking up and this spider decided it was time to make an escape. Wow, these things can really move! I've never experienced a Jumping Spider that can move at such a pace. It would take 4 or 5 huge 20+cm jumps in quick succession, and I very nearly lost it. It didn't take long before I had my shots and I was ready to quickly return it to exactly the same spot where it was found.
11mm Male Fencepost Jumping Spider (Marpissa muscosa)
9mm male Fencepost Jumping Spider (Marpissa muscosa) photographed on fence post in SE London, 5th June 2021
10mm female Fencepost Jumping Spider (Marpissa muscosa) feeding on a Grass Spider (Tibellus cf oblongus) in SE London, 5th June 2021
7mm sub-adult male Fencepost Jumping Spider (Marpissa muscosa) photographed on fence post in SE London, 20th April 2023
7mm sub-adult male Fencepost Jumping Spider (Marpissa muscosa) photographed on fence post in SE London, 20th April 2023
7mm sub-adult male Fencepost Jumping Spider (Marpissa muscosa) photographed on fence post in SE London, 20th April 2023
12mm adult female Fencepost Jumping Spider (Marpissa muscosa) found on fence post at the edge of ancient woodland in north Kent, 4th June 2023.
12mm adult female Fencepost Jumping Spider (Marpissa muscosa) found on fence post at the edge of ancient woodland in north Kent, 4th June 2023.
12mm adult female Fencepost Jumping Spider (Marpissa muscosa) found on fence post at the edge of ancient woodland in north Kent, 4th June 2023.
12mm adult female Fencepost Jumping Spider (Marpissa muscosa) found on fence post at the edge of ancient woodland in north Kent, 4th June 2023.
12mm adult female Fencepost Jumping Spider (Marpissa muscosa) found on fence post at the edge of ancient woodland in north Kent, 4th June 2023.
12mm adult female Fencepost Jumping Spider (Marpissa muscosa) found on fence post at the edge of ancient woodland in north Kent, 4th June 2023.
12mm adult female Fencepost Jumping Spider (Marpissa muscosa) found on fence post at the edge of ancient woodland in north Kent, 4th June 2023.
12mm adult female Fencepost Jumping Spider with Flesh Fly prey. Found on wooden fence post at the edge of the River Cray in north Kent, 19:00 hrs, 26th May 2024.
12mm adult female Fencepost Jumping Spider with Flesh Fly prey. Found on wooden fence post at the edge of the River Cray in north Kent, 19:00 hrs, 26th May 2024.
Adult female 5mm Downy Jumper (Attulus pubescens)
Downy Jumper (Sitticus / Sittipub / Hypositticus / Attulus pubescens)
Another widespread and common jumping spider found across England, usually in residential areas around human habitation. They have an average body-length of 4-6mm. Adult females can be found throughout the year but adult males are found from March to October. Both sexes peak around May to June. In areas away from humans this species can on occasion be found on tree trunks and rocks. Inside of houses it is usually the Cellar Spider / Daddy-Long-Legs Spider (Pholcus phalangioides) that is the top of its food-chain feeding on other insects as well as other spiders. But the Downy Jumper has been observed and photographed killing and feeding on Cellar Spiders. The capability of making a surprise jumping attack from a distance gives the Jumping Spider a great advantage over this known spider-hunter.
This species has been the subject of some debate over the years as to which genus it belongs on. It is currently accepted by most experts to be classed as Attulus pubescens. LINK
Adult female 6mm Downy Jumper - (Attulus pubescens) found on my garden shed at 11pm in May.
4mm male Downy Jumper - (Attulus pubescens) found on my garden fence in May.
3.5mm adult male Rock Jumper, Attulus inexpectus, found on Eastbourne Beach, East Sussex, 21st August 2023.
Rock Jumper / Wet Jumper - (Attulus inexpectus, formerly Calositticu inexpectus and Sitticus inexpectus)
The Rock Jumper is a nationally scarce, lowland species, usually found on shingle beaches on the south and south-east coast of England. Males grow to around 3.5 - 5mm, whilst the slightly larger females reach around 5 - 6.5mm. Very similar in appearance to other Attulus species, especially Attulus floricola. Attulus inexpectus is typically darker in appearance to Attulus floricola. Given the absence of a white line over the chelicerae, combined with both the pattern and the habitat, Attulus inexpectus was the most likely species for this specimen, which was later confirmed upon inspection. In Poland, where Attulus inexpectus is common, and goes by the common name of the Wet Jumper, its habitat includes wetland sites, peat bogs, water banks, wet meadows and around brackish ponds.
3.5mm adult male Rock Jumper, Attulus inexpectus, found on Eastbourne Beach, East Sussex, 21st August 2023.
6mm female V-Fronted Jumper found on heather at Thursley Nature Reserve, Surrey, 2nd August 2024.
V-Fronted Jumper - (Aelurillus V-insignitus)
The V-Fronted Jumper is a medium-sized Jumping Spider that grows to around 6-7mm for females and 4-5mm for the smaller males. This nationally scarce species is found on dry, open heathland and short, stony grassland. It is largely confined to south-central England, with a patchy distribution at coastal sites around the southern half of the UK. The V-Fronted Jumper has a particularly squat appearance and males can usually be identified by a chevron marking, or two inverted "U" shapes on the top of the head, one inside the other. Adult males can usually be seen from May to July and again in late August and September. Adult females can be seen from May to September. This species is considered fairly common throughout Europe.
6mm female V-Fronted Jumper found on heather at Thursley Nature Reserve, Surrey, 2nd August 2024.
6mm female V-Fronted Jumper found on heather at Thursley Nature Reserve, Surrey, 2nd August 2024.
6mm female V-Fronted Jumper found on heather at Thursley Nature Reserve, Surrey, 2nd August 2024.
6mm female V-Fronted Jumper found on heather at Thursley Nature Reserve, Surrey, 2nd August 2024.
6mm female V-Fronted Jumper found on heather at Thursley Nature Reserve, Surrey, 2nd August 2024.
6mm female V-Fronted Jumper found on heather at Thursley Nature Reserve, Surrey, 2nd August 2024.
6mm female V-Fronted Jumper found on heather at Thursley Nature Reserve, Surrey, 2nd August 2024.
5mm Female Common Sun-Jumper (Heliophanus cf flavipes)
Common Sun-Jumper (Heliophanus flavipes)
A small Jumping Spider with a typical body-length of around 5mm, and sometimes up to 7mm. The smaller males typically grow to just 3-4mm. The palps and legs are a lemon-yellow colour contrasting against the dark body. This species is usually found on shrubs and other low / medium height vegetation or low branches of trees, with a preference to sunny spots. There are 4 species of Sun Jumper found in the UK, but telling Heliophanus sp. apart is very difficult.
Heavily gravid 7mm female Common Sun-Jumper (Heliophanus cf flavipes)
1mm juvenile Sun-Jumper (Heliophanus sp.) found in my bathroom 24th August 2020
Here's the smallest spider that I've ever attempted to photograph. It was too small to even recognise as a spider with my eyes and would have gone completely unnoticed if it hadn't waked across the top of my white bathroom sink. The distinctive walk of a Jumping Spider gave his identity away. I decidied to attempt to photograph it, even though its size was way beyond the capabilities of my Canon 100mm f/2.8 L IS Macro lens. This is a 1mm Sun-Jumper Spider (Heliophanus sp).
One Penny coin with a 1mm juvenile Common Sun-Jumper (Heliophanus cf flavipes) found in my bathroom 24th August 2020
6mm adult female Sun Jumper photographed in my bathroom whilst hanging from a single thread, 27th August 2020.
Three days after finding the tiny 1mm juvenile Sun Jumper (Heliophanus sp) in my bathroom, I got a visit from what it likely to be the mother. These shots were taken "in-situ" using the white UPVC window frame of my bathroom window as the background. This female Sun Jumper was hanging from a single thread and spinning around in circles whilst she slowly descended from the top of my bathroom window onto my bathroom sink
4mm female Sun-Jumper (Heliophanus sp.) photographed in my garden in SE London 10th April 2020
As the late afternoon sun moved round to the west of the house, and the shadow cast by the garden fence began to send the hydrangea bush into darkness, the tiny Sun Jumper inched towards the edge of the leaves to soak up the last of the sun's rays.
5mm female Sun-Jumper (Heliophanus sp.) photographed in my garden in SE London 2nd May 2020
5mm female Sun-Jumper (Heliophanus sp.) photographed on low vegetation at the edge of a grass field in SE London, 28th May 2021.
5mm female Sun-Jumper (Heliophanus sp.) photographed on lemon balm in my SE London garden, 1st June 2021.
5mm female Sun-Jumper (Heliophanus sp.) photographed in my garden in SE London 10th April 2020
3mm male Sun-Jumper (Heliophanus sp.) found on a flowerpot in my garden in SE London, 26th May 2019.
3mm male Sun-Jumper (Heliophanus sp.) that wandered into my kitchen in SE London, 19th April 2020.
3mm male Sun-Jumper (Heliophanus sp.) on my garden shed in SE London 12th April 2020
3.5mm male Copper Sun-Jumper, Heliophanus cupreus, in my SE London garden, 27th May 2024.
Copper Sun-Jumper - (Heliophanus cupreus)
This is the second most common of the four Sun Jumper species in the UK. Records are common in the SE and SW of England, and the SE of Wales, but scattered elsewhere in the UK. Females typically reach 5-6mm and the smaller males reach around 3-4mm. Usually found in low vegetation but climbing to the top of the plants on sunny days.
3.5mm male Copper Sun-Jumper, Heliophanus cupreus, in my SE London garden, 27th May 2024.
3.5mm male Copper Sun-Jumper, Heliophanus cupreus, in my SE London garden, 27th May 2024.
3.5mm male Copper Sun-Jumper, Heliophanus cupreus, in my SE London garden, 27th May 2024.
3.5mm male Copper Sun-Jumper, Heliophanus cupreus, in my SE London garden, 27th May 2024.
3.5mm male Copper Sun-Jumper, Heliophanus cupreus, in my SE London garden, 27th May 2024.
3mm male Oak Jumper (Ballus chalybeius) found in my garden in SE London / North Kent
Oak Jumper - (Ballus chalybeius)
A small Jumping Spider with a maximum body-length of around 4.5 - 5.5mm for females and 3 - 4mm for males. The body is usually dark brown and fairly flat, and the legs are light brown / orange. Light brown specimens do also occur. Found mostly in the SE of England but scattered sightings are recorded across England and Wales. Favours woodland habitat especially Oak. It spins a silky retreat on the upper side of bushes and small trees.
For reasons that aren't quite clear Ballus chalybeius is sometimes known as the Drunken Jumper. This name may have come from the early arachnologist, William Syer Bristowe, who described the male's mating dance as moving from side to side and swaying. Another possible explanation comes from this spiders tendency to move backwards and sideways from any perceived threat rather than jumping to escape.
4mm female Oak Jumper (Ballus chalybeius) found on a wetlands site in SE London / North Kent
3mm adult male Oak Jumper (Ballus chalybeius) photographed on my thumb to give a sense of scale.
7mm female Macaroeris nidicolens found in my garden 19th April 2019
Mile End Jumping Spider / Pine Jumping Spider (Macaroeris nidicolens)
This Mediterranean Jumping Spider is fairly new to the UK and was only first recorded back in 2002 at Mile End Park, Tower Hamlets in East London, hence the common name of Mile End Jumping Spider They are also occasionally referred to as the Tower Hamlets Jumping Spider. Another common name for this species is the Pine Jumping Spider, due to its apparent preference for Pine Trees.
Macaroeris nidicolens was then recorded in Essex at Thurrock in 2006. By 2019 it had been recorded at various sites in the SE of England including one record from Greenwich and a couple from Dartford. Macaroeris nidicolens have been found on Pine Trees, Gorse, Privet and Hawthorn at other locations in the SE.
There is no doubt that the Mile End Jumping Spider is spreading and as of 2020 this species had been recorded at 15 sites around London, and one on the South Coast. Adult specimens have a typical body-length of around 5 - 7mm for females and 4 - 6mm for males. Since 2020 I have now found this species at several local sites to my home in SE London.
Since 2019 Macaroeris nidicolens has now become quite a common sight in my own SE London garden, especially during the spring.
3mm immature female Macaroeris nidicolens
4mm adult male Mile End Jumping Spider (Macaroeris nidicolens) found on the back of my work van in SE London, 1st June 2020.
Unlike many species of spider the male Mile End Jumping Spider doesn't have obviously distinguishable pedipalps from the female without close examination. Males are considerably smaller though, with far darker legs and abdomen, and a dark brown face and pedipalps. There are often two white patches at the rear of the head.
5mm adult male Mile End Jumping Spider (Macaroeris nidicolens) found on the privet bush in my garden in SE London, 25th May 2020.
Female Macaroeris nidicolens in my garden in SE London 19th April 2019
Female Macaroeris nidicolens in my garden in SE London 19th April 2019
One of two female Macaroeris nidicolens found in my garden in SE London on the leaves of a Privet Bush 2 metres above the ground, April 19th 2020.
This sub-adult female specimen had a body-length of around 6mm. When sighted in my SE London garden female Macaroeris nidicolens are nearly always on my privet bush and at a height of around 4 - 7 feet above the ground, with most sightings at around 6ft above the ground. They tend to be quite shy and are quick to hide on the underside of the leaf when approached for photos.
One of two female Macaroeris nidicolens found in my garden in SE London on the leaves of a Privet Bush 2 metres above the ground, April 19th 2020.
One of two female Macaroeris nidicolens found in my garden in SE London on the leaves of a Privet Bush 2 metres above the ground, April 19th 2020.
4mm female Macaroeris nidicolens found in my garden in SE London on the top of a Privet Bush 2.5 metres above the ground, April 26th 2020.
One of two 3.5-4mm sub-adult female Macaroeris nidicolens found in my garden in SE London on a Privet Bush, 2 metres above the ground, April 4th 2021.
This is my earliest record in the year so far for this species.
The female Mile End Jumping Spiders appear to have their favourite basking spots on my privet bush. This 5mm female specimen basked on the same leaf in my garden every sunny morning for a week commencing 17th May 2021.
6mm sub-adult female Mile-End Jumping Spider (Macaroeris nidicolens) photographed on a bush public gardens in SE London, 20th April 2023
6mm sub-adult female Mile-End Jumping Spider (Macaroeris nidicolens) photographed on a bush public gardens in SE London, 20th April 2023
5mm sub-adult female Mile End Jumping Spider, Macaroeris nidicolens, found on my car in SE London, 5th May 2023.
5mm sub-adult female Mile End Jumping Spider, Macaroeris nidicolens, found on my car in SE London, 5th May 2023.
5mm sub-adult female Mile End Jumping Spider, Macaroeris nidicolens, found on my car in SE London, 5th May 2023.
5mm sub-adult female Mile End Jumping Spider, Macaroeris nidicolens, found on my car in SE London, 5th May 2023.
5mm sub-adult female Mile End Jumping Spider, Macaroeris nidicolens, in my SE London garden, 5th May 2023.
6mm female Mile End Jumping Spider, Macaroeris nidicolens, in my SE London garden, 27th September 2023
Since 2019 Macaroeris nidicolens has now become quite a common sight in my own SE London garden during the spring. They seem to mostly disappear from my garden once the summer arrives though. This 6mm female specimen was photographed on the 27th September 2023, and is the first Macaroeris nidicolens I've seen in my garden this late in the year.
6mm female Mile End Jumping Spider, Macaroeris nidicolens, in my SE London garden, 27th September 2023
6mm female Mile End Jumping Spider, Macaroeris nidicolens, in my SE London garden, 27th September 2023
6mm female Mile End Jumping Spider, Macaroeris nidicolens, in my SE London garden, 27th September 2023
7mm female Mile End Jumping Spider, Macaroeris nidicolens, in my SE London garden, 1st April 2024.
3mm sub-adult female Fleecy Jumper (Pseudeuophrys lanigera) found on my bedroom ceiling.
Fleecy Jumper / House Jumping Spider - (Pseudeuophrys lanigera / Euophrys lanigera)
Pseudeuophrys lanigera or the Fleecy Jumper as it is sometimes known, is a very small species of Jumping Spider with a maximum body-length of 3-4mm for males and 3-5mm for females. They are often found on the tops of sunny high walls and roofs of buildings. They also often turn up inside buildings on ceilings, especially once the weather gets colder. This species can be found all year round indoors and is scarce in the north of the UK but becomes more common in the south. In 2022 I recorded 2.5mm & 3mm specimens on UVPC doors and windows in SE London, on sunny days in mid-February, when the air temperatures were 7-9 degrees.
4mm adult female Fleecy Jumper (Pseudeuophrys lanigera) found on the outside wall of a house in Kent in May.
3mm male Fleecy Jumper (Pseudeuophrys lanigera) found on my bedroom wall in SE London / North Kent in September
3mm female Fleecy Jumper (Pseudeuophrys lanigera)
This Fleecy Jumper has class. It was found living under the rear light of my Porsche Cayman S, and photographed "in-situ" as is wandered along my car's rear bumper.
4mm female Fleecy Jumper, Pseudeuophrys lanigera, found on a wooden fence around a horse field in Kent, 26th May 2024.
4mm female Fleecy Jumper, Pseudeuophrys lanigera, found on a wooden fence around a horse field in Kent, 26th May 2024.
4mm female Fleecy Jumper, Pseudeuophrys lanigera, found on a wooden fence around a horse field in Kent, 26th May 2024.
3mm adult female Ant-Mimic Jumping Spider (Synageles venator) found on a UPVC front door in Erith, SE London / North Kent, May 2019.
Ant-Mimic Jumping Spider - (Synageles venator)
Synageles venator is a tiny species of Jumping Spider that mimics the appearance of an ant. This mimicry allows the spider to get close to its prey without them suspecting an ambush. The Ant-Mimic Jumping Spider grows to a maximum body-length of around 4mm for females. Males have an indentation on their abdomen that gives the impression that the spider consists of three body segments instead of the usual two that spiders have. This helps pull off the imitation of an insect rather than a spider. They also have a white band on their abdomen that further exaggerates this indentation and makes the 'three body segment' illusion more convincing. This female specimen was probably gravid and therefore had a swollen abdomen and lost this indention usually indicative of this species.
This nationally scarce species is confined mainly to coastal sand dunes in England and Wales, and my sightings in Erith, Kent during May & September 2019 were the very first to ever be recorded in the London area. This species has only ever been found once before in Kent at Sandwich Bay. My female specimen was found in May 2019 on a UPVC front door of a house in a built-up residential housing area in SE London / North Kent. Originally I believed that these spiders were probably isolated specimens that arrived as accidental stowaways on imported plants to the area. However, since finding more specimens on residential houses, in 2021 and 2022, within a 2 mile radius, I now believe that this species is definitely established in the SE London area.
3mm adult male Ant-Mimic Jumping Spider (Synageles venator) found on another UPVC front door in Erith, SE London / North Kent.
This second specimen was a male and was found about 500m from the first, wandering on the front of another home September 19th 2019. Whilst in my care it readily fed on a small fruit fly I offered it.
This spider was the most frustrating specimen that I have ever tried to photograph. It took me 4 hours of continuous shooting to capture these shots. I took around 1000 photos and these were the only ones that were sharp enough to use. Much like the Black Garden Ant, that this spider mimics, it never stays still for a moment, unless it cocoons itself in a silky tent. This species not only looks like an ant but moves around like one as well.
3mm adult male Ant-Mimic Jumping Spider (Synageles venator) found on the top of a plastic recycling bin in SE London / North Kent.
On 18th October 2021 my wife and I were taking out the recycling and as I opened the lid of my green plastic & metal recycling bin my wife spotted a small spider of about 3mm in length on the rim of the bin. I had noticed it out the corner of my eye but I'd subconsciously disregarded it as an ant. I tried not to get too excited as I asked my wife to fetch me a pot for me to capture it in. Sure enough as soon as I looked at the spider through the lens of my camera it was obvious we had found a male Synageles venator in our SE London garden, about 2 miles from my previous sightings in 2019.
2.5mm female Ant-Mimic Jumping Spider (Synageles venator) found on another UPVC front door in Erith, SE London / North Kent, 22nd June 2022.
3.5mm female Ant-Mimic Jumping Spider, Synageles venator.
3.5mm female Ant-Mimic Jumping Spider, Synageles venator.
3.5mm female Ant-Mimic Jumping Spider, Synageles venator.
4mm male Bowed Jumping Spider, found on low vegetation at Ashdown Forest, Sussex, 19th September 2022
Bowed Jumping Spider (Evarcha arcuata)
The Bowed Jumping Spider is a medium sized, robustly built species, that grows to 5-6 mm for males and 6-8mm for females. This nationally scarce jumping spider is generally found in damper, or boggy parts of dry heathland, in southern and central England. Occasionally this spider is referred to as the Gorilla Spider.
4mm male Bowed Jumping Spider, found on low vegetation at Ashdown Forest, Sussex, 19th September 2022
4mm male Bowed Jumping Spider, on my thumb for scale. 19th September 2022
3.5mm female White-Palped Jumper, found in a grass meadow in Berkshire, 11th August 2024.
White-Palped Jumper - (Euophrys frontalis)
The White-Palped Jumper is a small species of Jumping Spider that gets its name from the adult male which has a distinctive tuft of white hairs along the upper face of its pedipalps. This small Jumper grows to around 3-5mm for adult females and 2-3mm for adult males. The White-Palped Jumper is a common and widespread species in the southern half of the UK, with a more scattered distribution, usually at coastal sites, further north in England. White-Palped Jumpers can be found at ground level in a variety of habitats including grass meadows, heathland and woodland clearings. This species takes refuge beneath the surface, often under rocks, where it hides itself away in a small silken retreat. It is not uncommon to find several specimens sharing the same hiding spot.
As adults this is a sexually dimorphic species with adult males looking very different from the adult females. The sub-adults look far more similar to each other though. The males can still be distinguished by the palpal bulb and the dark, stocky front legs. From the few specimens that I have found the males also seem to be slightly darker in shade too. In the UK we also have two other species from the Euophrys genus, Euophrys petrensis and Euophrys herbigrada .Both are nationally rare species and confined to a small number of southern coastal sites. Both species are also quite distinctive in appearance and unlikely to be confused with Euophrys frontalis.
LINK 1 LINK 2 LINK 3
3.5mm female White-Palped Jumper, found in a grass meadow in Berkshire, 11th August 2024.
3.5mm female White-Palped Jumper, found in a grass meadow in Berkshire, 11th August 2024.
3.5mm female White-Palped Jumper, found in a grass meadow in Berkshire, 11th August 2024.
3.5mm female White-Palped Jumper, found in a grass meadow in Berkshire, 11th August 2024.
3mm sub-adult male White-Palped Jumper, found in a grass meadow in Berkshire, 11th August 2024.
3mm sub-adult male White-Palped Jumper, found in a grass meadow in Berkshire, 11th August 2024.
3mm sub-adult male White-Palped Jumper, found in a grass meadow in Berkshire, 11th August 2024.
3mm sub-adult male & 3.5mm female White-Palped Jumpers, found in a grass meadow in Berkshire, 11th August 2024.
Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 are the 3mm sub-adult male White-Palped Jumper. Numbers 5, 6, 8 and 9 are the 3.5mm female White-Palped Jumper. The sub-adult male does look very similar to the female but there are some differences apart from the subtle palpal bulb on the male. The male is slightly darker in overall shade. The male also has darker, stockier front legs. Lastly, the male has a dark marginal border than runs around the carapace and continues across the face of the spider, to look like a mostache. The dark marginal border on the female does not cross the spider's face.
10mm adult female Adanson's House Jumper, found in a horticultural nursery / butterfly house in SE London 28th April 2021
Adanson's House Jumper (Hasarius adansoni)
The Adanson's House Jumper is a pantropical species and is native to Africa and the Middle East. It has since been introduced to greenhouses, zoos and similar indoor horticultural facilities worldwide. It is now found established in the wild in warmer parts of Europe, India, China, Japan, Australia, North America, South America and Vietnam. Males grow to around 8mm in body-length, whilst the large and stocky females reach around 10mm. The Adanson's House Jumper, as its name suggests, is a synanthropic species, meaning they live near, and benefit from a close association with humans. In warmer countries the Adanson's House Jumper is commonly seen on internal walls and ceilings of houses. Male specimens are known to exhibit a distinctive behaviour of moving their white tufted pedipalps in a marching fashion whilst walking.
In the UK this species is only encountered as a very occasional accidental import in hothouses, such as greenhouses and indoor nurseries, and has not established itself living in the wild. The Adanson's House Jumper has been observed in England since 1862, when it was first found in a conservatory at Burnham, Somerset. It has also been sighted on occasion at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Edinburgh in the Orchid House since 1904. It was first recorded at the Eden Project in Cornwall in 2009 and has also been recorded many times at Kew Gardens, with records as recent as February 2021. In December 2017 a male specimen was found in a bedroom in Bath, Somerset in the UK and photographed by Tone Killick. Both my male and female Adanson's House Jumpers were found on separate occasions in a horticultural nursery / butterfly house in SE London in spring of 2021, where the staff had previously seen both male and female specimens on many occasions for several years. Sadly this butterfly house was closed in 2021 and it's not known what happened to the Adanson's House Jumpers that were established there.
On 28th October 2021 I was contacted by Mr Shirkie, who discovered and photographed a male Adanson's House Jumper specimen in his home in the Kyle district in Scotland. On 19th November 2021 a male Hasarius adansoni was found climbing over a Christmas tree in the IKEA store, in the West Midlands town of Wednesbury - LINK. On 9th November 2022 a female Adanson's House Jumper was found in Taverham garden centre, just outside Norwich - LINK. On the 20th September 2023 a male Adanson's House Jumper was found in a home in Wiltshire - LINK.
8mm adult male Adanson's House Jumper, found in a horticultural nursery / butterfly house in SE London 23rd March 2021
When viewed from the front the male Adanson's House Jumper is sometimes confused with the much smaller Euophrys frontalis, which is a widespread and native species to the UK, especially on the southern coasts of England. However Euophrys frontalis can easily be distinguished by the white tips to its front legs, that are not found on Hasarius adansoni.
Female & male Adanson's House Jumpers
8mm male Adanson's House Jumper, found in a horticultural nursery / butterfly house in SE London 23rd March 2021
8mm male Adanson's House Jumper, found in a horticultural nursery / butterfly house in SE London 23rd March 2021
10mm female Adanson's House Jumper, found in a horticultural nursery / butterfly house in SE London 28th April 2021
10mm female Adanson's House Jumper, found in a horticultural nursery / butterfly house in SE London 28th April 2021
14mm male Phidippus regius, that arrived as an accidental stowaway to the UK, at an import warehouse in Essex, 12th April 2022.
Regal Jumping Spider (Phidippus regius)
Phidippus are the largest of the Jumping Spiders native to the USA, and there are several species of Phidippus found there. The Regal Jumping Spider is one of theses large and impressive spiders, with males reaching a body-length of 6 - 18mm, with 12mm being the average. The females are even larger, reaching an impressive 7 - 22mm, with 15mm being the average. These beautiful spiders are usually confined to southern, and south-eastern, states in the U.S.A., as well as the Greater Antilles, and the Bahamas. In the USA Phidippus regius are most common around the Florida area. Sadly they are not established anywhere in the UK.
Mature males are black and white in colour, with a large, white, triangular spot in the middle of their abdomen, and usually two small white dots at the posterior end. The chelicerae, or fang cases, are large, with a bright metallic green / blue colouration. The heavily fringed front legs of the male grow at a disproportionate rate as the spider matures. Mature males have large and powerful front legs, giving the spider a slight resemblance to a miniature gorilla.
By the time they reach their third instar female specimens are covered in tiny coloured scales. These scales can be grey, light brown, orange, or any mixture of these colours. Occasionally females can be black & white like the males. The female's fang cases are not as large as the males but they still have an iridescent sheen, although they are typically metallic pink / violet. Occasionally they can be green, like the males, but even then they usually have some degree of pink colouration on them too. The front legs are long but not as large, or as tufted, as the males. There are two closely related species to Phidippus regius, that can be found in the same areas, Phidippus audax, and Phidippus otiosus, and both are similar in appearance. Phidippus regius often vary in appearance due to locality, but there is still variation between specimens found in the same area. Female specimens from the Bahamas are often found as a largely white morph. For photos of the female Regal Jumping Spider please check out this page of my website.
In the wild the Regal Jumping Spider likes high temperatures, lots of light and fairly high humidity. In their native countries they are frequently found around open fields, agricultural land and light woodland. Regal Jumping Spiders are also often found around human habitation, where they can be seen hunting their invertebrate prey on trees, fences or walls of buildings. At night they hide away in a silken retreat. The female regularly uses loose tree bark, or gaps behind the wood of barns, and other wooden buildings, to lay their eggs. The lifespan of the Regal Jumping Spider is usually 1 - 2 years, but some specimens have been known to live for 3 years.
These photos of a large male specimen were taken after the spider turned up, as an accidental stowaway, at an import warehouse in Essex. Knowing the country of origin as the USA, and due the spider's large size and metallic chelicerae, this specimen was easy to identify as Phidippus species. Once taken into captivity it could be confirmed as the Regal Jumping Spider, Phidippus regius. This male Regal Jumping Spider was one moult away from reaching maturity. Once mature it went on to successfully breed in captivity with a female Phidippus regius.
Phidippus sp. are popular in the exotic pet-trade, due their impressive size, beautiful colours and calm temperament. These spiders are generally very reluctant to bite humans, but due to their large size species such as Phidippus regius can give a mildly painful bite if badly handled. The bite causes no real harm to humans though. Although initially painful, the pain is caused mainly by the large fangs, rather than the venom of the spider, and any pain and itchiness fades within a day or two.
Jumping Spiders usually average about 8 - 10 moults as they grow to maturity. There is an excellent post on Facebook showing the various stages of the Regal Jumping Spider - LINK
14mm male Phidippus regius, that arrived as an accidental stowaway to the UK, at an import warehouse in Essex, 12th April 2022.
14mm male Phidippus regius, that arrived as an accidental stowaway to the UK, at an import warehouse in Essex, 12th April 2022.
For more non-native species of Jumping Spider please visit this page: NON-NATIVE SPIDERS