Belonging to the Order Araneae and the Family Salticidae, the Icius spider is a genus of jumping spider that Eugene Simon first described in 1876. Although this jumping spider species can thrive very well in almost any environment it is introduced to; it is mainly present in Italy, Portugal, Romania, France, Poland, and Greece.
Like many of the jumping spiders we have come across, the Icius jumping spider has a lot going for it in terms of physical description, hunting and mating behavior, as well as what it likes to eat both in the wild and in captivity. And before we forget to add, this jumping spider is among the friendliest and most intelligent jumping spiders we have come across.
Read on to find more exciting details about our leaper friends.
What is their scientific name?
If you know anything about jumping spiders, you’ll know that most jumping spiders have a common name they are called. Unfortunately for our leaper friends, there is little to no information about their general name; instead, their scientific name, Icius, has taken precedence.
Outside of their scientific name, the Icius jumping spider displays unique behaviors and possesses special characters common among most jumping spiders. Though they aren’t the biggest jumping spiders out there, they are daring and can fend for themselves in the wild.
Read on to find everything you need to know about our furry friends’ physical description and size.
Physical description and size
The Icius jumping spider may not be the most colorful jumping spider you must have come across, but guess what? They will leave you astonished with their intelligence and physical characteristics.
Overall, our spider friends measure between 5 to 7 mm. While this jumping spider species’ females are bigger than their male counterparts, the difference isn’t so much. Adult males of this species measure approximately 4.4 mm to 5.7 mm, while their female counterparts measure between 5 and 7 mm.
Even though they can thrive very well in most environments, including temperate regions, our leaper friends prefer dry and hot habitats. This explains why many spider enthusiasts have encountered the Icius jumping spiders in shrubs, sunny bushes, and walls of houses, where they are observed to stalk their prey actively.
In terms of physical description, the Icius jumping spider has mainly been described by the male species. That said, adult males of this jumping spider species have basic color, and that’s because most of the males spotted have a hairy body that is rusty brown.
In addition to their rusty brown bodies, our furry friends have a distinct white longitudinal stripe and white stripes on the edge of their opisthosoma. Like their rusty brown and hairy bodies, the Icius jumping spider has a mainly brownish prosoma, with a tint of darker markings.
While our spider friends have eight impressive eyes, they have very dominant anterior median eyes and smaller eyes on each side. Thanks to their remarkable vision, the Icius spider can actively hunt down prey with utmost precision. Plus, their extraordinary vision lets them identify and evade predators easily.
Where are they from?
Jumping spiders can indeed thrive very well in almost all environments they are introduced to. That said, the Icius spider has its unique origin, and we will delve into that shortly.
Many experts believe that the Icius jumping spider is a cosmopolitan creature, and that’s because of where they have been mostly sighted.
To give you some insight, our spider friends are widely spread across Europe. They have been spotted in popular European countries like France, Greece, Croatia, Belgium, Germany, Portugal, Romania, Poland, Italy, Span, Russia, Slovenia, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
Outside of Europe, our furry friends have also been sighted in Africa, Asia, Central, and South America. As a matter of fact, the Icius pallidulus, a species of this jumping spider, is endemic to Micronesia.
Diet and feeding
The Icius jumping spider is a superb hunter that can fend for itself in the wild. Thanks to their impressive jumping skills and extraordinary vision, our spider friends can patiently stalk their prey, lure them close and pounce on them with utmost precision.
While other spiders use their webs for hunting, the Icius spider does things differently, and that’s because it prefers to pounce on its prey.
When they are in the wild, our leaper friends will eat various insects, including flies, mosquitoes, larva, crickets, and more. And because they are daring creatures, they can take on prey twice their size.
Unfortunately, when they are raised in captivity, our leaper friends can no longer hunt; thus, you have to provide them with feeder insects, so they don’t starve.
What is their temperament?
Worried about their intimidating look and scared to go close? Well, we are happy to let you know that jumping spiders such as the Icius jumpers will change your perception of spiders. And that’s all thanks to their friendly nature. Though they are aggressive towards their prey, their first instinct is to get away when they encounter humans.
Because of their friendly demeanor, exciting spider display, and bright colors, many people enjoy keeping our leaper friends as pets.
Is it dangerous or venomous to humans?
There is no denying that our spider friends are vicious hunters with impeccable jumping skills and bite that can incapacitate their prey, but guess what? They aren’t harmful to humans. While their potent venom will immobilize their prey, their venom doesn’t cause harm to humans.
Except you’re allergic to spider bites, a bite from the Icius jumping spider will not cause any serious issues.
Frequently asked questions: Learn more about the Icius jumping spider.
Are Icius spiders aggressive?
Though our leaper friends display aggressive tendencies towards their prey, they are friendly when they encounter humans. Except they feel threatened or handled roughly, they will generally maintain their cool at all times.
How big do they get?
When it comes to size, adult species of this jumping spider measure between 5 and 7 mm. Plus, females tend to be slightly bigger than their male counterparts.
Do they use webs for hunting?
One notable thing about the Icius jumping spider is that it doesn’t use webs for hunting. Instead, it uses its fantastic vision to stalk prey and pounce on it.
