Salticus scenicus

Zebra jumping spider

Despite hunting like a tiny cat, stalking and pouncing on prey, this common jumping spider can capture insects as large as itself on sunlit walls.

Where	Sunny walls and fences near buildings
Size	Female 5 to 9 mm, male 4 to 7 mm body length
When	March to September

The Zebra jumping spider is a small black spider boldly marked with white stripes and spots; males often show a more brownish abdomen than the glossier black females, and both have large forward facing eyes that give excellent vision for a jumping spider of this size.

It lives on sunny walls, fences and rocks close to buildings, and occasionally on bark or open woodland trees, stalking prey in short jumps rather than building a web. It hunts by day and can subdue insects and other spiders close to its own body size.

Traits

Habitat

Towns

Colour

Black, White

Active

Day

To people

Not dangerous to people; it does not bite defensively and simply jumps away when disturbed.

Activity through the year

JFMAMJJASOND

Often confused with

Salticus cingulatusnot in guide

Salticus cingulatus

Paler overall with more white hairs and larger, more oblique dark patches rather than the Zebra jumping spider's cleaner banding, and usually found on tree trunks and fences away from buildings rather than on walls close to habitation.