Elegant Golden Jumping Spider – Chrysilla Lauta – Species

Elegant golden jumping spiders are one of the cutest species of spiders you’ll come across. Their elegant, bright colours and friendly nature has made them one of the most sought-after exotic pets out there. Thanks to their superb jumping skills, these little leapers are capable of hunting and fending for themselves in the wild.

That said, let’s bring you up to speed on everything you need to know about the elegant golden jumping spider.

Elegant jumping spider scientific name

Like most spider species, the elegant golden jumping spider has a unique scientific name it goes by. For those who have no idea, the elegant golden jumping spider is scientifically called the chrysilla lauta.

This species of spider is naturally found in rain forests from China to Burma and Vietnam. While it has been known since 1887, the elegant golden jumping spider has only been described from its male specimens.

Elegant golden jumping spider description and size?

The elegant golden jumping spider is famous for its bright and elegant colours. That said, the males have a very slender body with an orange-red carapace. Just between their eyes, you’ll spot an unmistakable narrow bluish-white and iridescent stripe.

Unlike other jumping spider species, the elegant golden jumping spider features a robust chelicera which doesn’t point forward.The long scutum of their opisthosoma appears dark brown and covered with thick golden coloured hair.

In addition to their brilliant appearance, elegant golden spiders have long and brownish-yellow legs.

In terms of size, the elegant golden jumping spider has quite a small structure. While there is very little information on its size, this spider species is believed to measure 5mm in length. Compared to other spiders with an average size of 15-21 mm, this one just doesn’t measure up. Where it takes the steam out of other jumping spider species is its bright and elegant colours.

How to identify an elegant golden jumping spider

The elegant golden jumping spider is one of the most gorgeous spiders we have come across. Found mainly in rain forests from Burma, China, Singapore, Vietnam and Myanmar, these beautiful leapers come in shades of blue, yellow and red that are dominant around their thorax. Plus, the majority of their body is coated in golden bronze.

Like most jumping spider species, the elegant golden jumping spider prey on small insects like crickets, fruit flies, mealworms and more.

That said, the male elegant golden jumping spider is very easy to spot, all thanks to its slender look. In addition, it sports an orange-red carapace, with a narrow bluish-white iridescent that is prominent between its eyes. Also, their chelicerae aren’t pointing forward.

The geographical range of the elegant golden jumping spider

Elegant golden spiders are predominantly found in Asia, specifically around the rain forest from Burma, China and Vietnam. While they were first discovered in 1887, these little leapers have been spotted in Sri Lanka, the US and some parts of Europe. That said, they were most likely an introduced species.

Today, our leaper friends are raised as pets and can be found in almost all countries.

Elegant golden spider habitat

One thing we love about the elegant golden spider is its desire to thrive and survive in almost all habitat. Our furry friends can survive in nearly all habitats from temperate to tropical forest and even savanna and grassland habitats. That said, they are commonly found in foliage in gardens, vertical surfaces like window panes, walls, meadows and forests.

So, if you’re looking to capture one for yourself, looking around these locations wouldn’t be such a bad idea.

Diet/feeding

Given their impressive jumping and hunting skills, our furry friends are capable of fending for themselves in the wild. While elegant golden jumping spiders are known to prey on smaller insects, they can take on much bigger insects like grasshoppers and crickets.

To give you a glimpse into their feeding, elegant golden jumping spiders will feast on feeder insects like crickets, flies, roaches, mealworms and other smaller spiders.

Unlike most traditional spider, elegant jumping spiders do not use webs for hunting; instead, they rely on their quick jumps to do the job for them.

If you put them together in a cage, it is only a matter of time before they end up eating each other. This is why it is recommended to keep only one spider in a single terrarium.

Besides insects that are their major foods, elegant golden spiders also consume pollen and nectar in the wild.

What you should never feed elegant golden jumping spiders

Our furry friends will indeed feed on a variety of small insects, but guess what, not every insect will make an excellent meal for our spider friends. For instance, some insects are capable of biting or spraying acid on spiders. This can do a lot of damage to your spider friend and may end up even killing it.

So, while it’s okay to serve flies, crickets, roaches and mealworms to your elegant golden jumping spider, please ensure you never offer beetles, fireflies and other spiders as spider food. The truth is, some of these insects are poisonous, aggressive and may end up killing your spider.

Of course, these insects may not bother you, but to your spider friend, it is a big no-no.

Lifespan and longevity

Spiders generally don’t have a long lifespan, and with the elegant golden jumping spider, it is pretty much the same. In the wild, our leaper friends can survive for one to two years. But when bred in captivity, they can survive for 2 to three years.

And just so you know, the female elegant jumping spider lives longer than its male counterparts.

Predation

While elegant jumping spiders are natural hunters who can stalk and take out their prey with precision jumps, sometimes, the hunter becomes the hunted. This is true because elegant jumping spiders are prey to predators like spider wasps and mantises.

But thanks to their impressive jumps and brilliant eyesight, our fuzzy friends can get away from predators easily.

Is it dangerous or venomous to humans?

Elegant golden spiders are generally friendly to humans. This explains why a lot of people want to keep them as pets. That said, these creatures are venomous and not afraid to bite when they are handled roughly or feel threatened.

But while their venoms are strong enough to incapacitate their prey, they aren’t harmful to humans. So, should you ever get bitten by this species of spider, the most you’ll see is redness and symptoms that disappear after a couple of days.

Housing the elegant golden jumping spider

If you plan to keep an elegant golden jumping spider in captivity, you must ensure that its housing is decent and spacious enough. And that’s because this specie of spiders likes to roam around freely. Also, you must ensure that its enclosure has enough ventilation and lighting. This is important if you want your spider friend to thrive very well.

Sure, you can use a vial or glass jar if you’re on a budget. That said, keep in mind that elegant golden jumping spiders like to roam around freely. So, if you have the bucks to spend, you can invest in a big tank or terrarium. Thanks to terrariums, your spider friend can live in captivity and still enjoy all the benefits available in its natural habitat.

Can you house multiple elegant golden jumping spiders in a single enclosure?

Our furry friends are quite friendly creatures, but when housed in the same tank, jumping spiders become vicious and will fight to the death. To this end, you should never keep multiple elegant golden jumping spiders in the same enclosure.

Even if they are kept together for mating purposes, please ensure you separate them after some time. And to ensure that the female doesn’t cannibalize the male, you can serve their favourite prey when putting them together in the same enclosure. This will serve as a form of distraction.

Frequently asked questions

How long can jumping spiders live for?

Our leaper friends have a very short life span. While some species can survive for only six months, others can survive for up to 2-3 years. Plus, females are known to live longer than males.

Can you keep elegant golden jumping spiders as pets?

Giving their curious and friendly nature, most people have come to love elegant golden jumping spiders and now raise them as pets. Their elegant bright colours make them a joy to behold. And because they aren’t aggressive and will only bite when threatened or handled roughly, they are not so difficult to care for.

Also, they don’t overeat, which is a great thing.

How big does an elegant golden jumping spider grow?

This jumping spider species don’t grow very big. Compared to other spider species that measure as long as 15mm, this one only measures around 5-7mm. And that’s for the males. For now, there is very little information on the size of the female elegant golden jumping spider.

What are jumping spiders attracted to?

Our fuzzy friends are agile and very smart predators who can hunt down prey with precision. If you find them around your home, they are most likely seeking out their prey. And because they love ambient temperatures in your home, it wouldn’t be out of place to see them lurking around every now and then, away from the hot or cold outside.

Are elegant golden jumping spiders poisonous?

Like other species of jumping spiders, the elegant golden jumping spider is friendly. And even though it has venoms that can incapacitate small preys, its venoms aren’t strong enough to harm humans.

Sure, an elegant golden jumping spider’s bite is painful. But the most you’ll see is redness and irritations that fades away after a few days.

That said, it is wise to handle this exotic pet with care.

Conclusion

Elegant golden jumping spiders are loved for their friendly nature. Plus, they are super easy to maintain. While they bite when they feel threatened, you have nothing to worry about if you handle them nicely.