The Teeny-Weeny Roommate: The Jumping Spider
You might be unfamiliar with it, but we all share our rooms with a few teeny weeny roommates, one of whom is the amazing tiny jumping spider. Apart from being adorable, they are incredibly useful in keeping the pest population in check! One of the kid’s favorites to watch on Youtube, ‘Lucas the Spider,’ is also a jumping spider. You might enjoy a short video of him - https://youtu.be/Isvqg90LhqM In this blog, let us discover more about the world of Jumping spiders and learn more about these adorable pest controllers.
Topics covered -
● General information, description, and appearance.
● Hunting Tactics
● Relationship with Humans and their Ecological Significance.
● Conclusion.
With their large and furry bodies, these spiders look adorable.
General information, description and appearance :-
Belonging to the family Salticidae, these adorable arachnids constitute about 13% of all spider species. Renowned for their sharp eyesight, the best among spiders and one of the sharpest in the phylum Arthropoda, they are easily recognized by the presence of four sets of eyes, of which the principal eyes present in the centre are particularly large. Their principal eyes enable them to see with great detail and track movement with extreme accuracy. If you are an arachnophobe, getting scared of Tarantulas and Scorpions is understandable, but if you gaze upon their big eyes, I’m sure you’ll have a little change of heart about the arachnids.
As you observe them, you can't help but marvel at their distinctive features. Their large eyes glisten with an inquisitive gleam, allowing them to keenly survey their surroundings and detect even the slightest movement of prey. They are small and delicate, found in brown, black, or even more vibrant colours, making them stand out among other common insects.
A vibrant jumping spider of Genus Phintella with a bug kill
2. Hunting Tactics :-
Jumping spiders don’t make webs; these tiny acrobats use different hunting tactics. With extraordinary precision and lightning-fast reflexes, these tiny arachnids leap and pounce on unsuspecting pests, effortlessly capturing them in their agile grasp. What makes these leaps extra special is that they land directly on the prey and don’t need to move an inch more. Within a couple of seconds, the prey is already in their grasp. When I first observed this, I was left awestruck. It was like watching a tiger hunt a deer in miniature form.
A jumping spider with a freshly hunted house fly
The spider stalks and slowly comes closer, using its color for camouflage, while the fly doesn’t suspect a thing. The spider begins to notice the movement of the fly, for which its eyes are large and highly developed. As soon as the spider feels comfortable with the distance,it gets itself ready, springs into the air, and lands directly on the fly, grasping it by the jaws, injecting it with venom, and paralyzing it. Unable to move or defend itself, the spider then enjoys its well-deserved feast.
3. Relationship with Humans and Ecological Significance :-
It must be noted that these arachnids are harmless to humans and pets. They don’t bite until they feel mortally threatened, and even if they bite, it isn’t strong enough to puncture our skin.
Now that we know that they are adorable and harmless, let us know about their ecological importance as well. These eight-legged creatures are mostly carnivorous, feeding on flies, ants, small butterflies, and grasshoppers, among other insects, to keep their populations in check.
Inside our houses, they make sure that pests like mosquitoes and houseflies, who spread numerous diseases, are kept at bay. So it can be said that they are actually caring roommates!
4. Conclusion :-
Spiders are undeniably fascinating creatures. You might have reservations about a few of them being scary or growing weary of cleaning their webs, but these adorable little jumping spiders are an exception. Unlike others, they are excellent pest controllers while maintaining a tidy living space.
Since they depend on their precise eyesight to hunt prey, jumping spiders usually hunt during the daytime
Finally, to conclude, jumping spiders are nature’s way of providing pest control for your houses. The next time you see these lovable teeny-weeny spiders, observe them for a while. If needed, when you are done, pick up a newspaper—not to roll it up and smash it, but to pick them up and release them outside in nearby vegetation, where they will continue to serve you by protecting your house from unwanted guests till their last breath! Written By- Samarth Jain (All photographs belong to the author and are not taken from the internet.)
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