Scientifically known as the Phidippus Regius, the regal jumping spider is one of the most popular species of spiders we have come across. Mostly encountered in Florida, the regal jumping spider got its unique name from its size, and that’s because it is the largest jumping spider in all of eastern North America.
While this jumping spider species can also be found in the Greater Antilles, the Southern U.S and the Bahamas, it is most common in peninsular Florida.
Identifying regal jumping spiders
Like we stated earlier, the regal jumping spider is easy to identify, and that’s all thanks to its unique features. To start with, their eye arrangement gives them away easily. The first-row features four eyes; the second row contains two smaller eyes while the third-row features two tiny eyes.
Besides their eyes, their size also gives them away. Being one of the largest species of Phidippus, the regal jumping spider is considered one of hairiest salticids in the region. Plus, their iridescent chelicerae which sit just below the front eyes makes them very conspicuous.
Regal jumping spider size
Thanks to their uniqueness, regal jumping spiders are easy to identify. Adult male regal jumping spiders average 12 mm in length, even though some can measure around 6 to 18 mm.
That said, male adult jumping spiders look a lot different from their female counterparts. To start with, male regal jumping spiders have a dominant black with alternating white and black fringes that runs all through the first pair of legs.
They also have a white basal band along with a central triangular white spot on the dorsum of the abdomen.
Did we forget to add that male regal jumping spiders have enlarged paired chelicerae that are iridescent? Oh yes, this makes them easy to identify.
Just like their male counterparts, the adult female regal jumping spiders average 15 mm in length. And even though they have similar patterns like the male, the females have the dorsal part of their body covered in brightly coloured scales. These scales can be tan, orange, brown or a combo of all the colours mentioned.
Some female regal jumping spiders are entirely covered in attractive orange scales.
Where can you find regal jumping spiders?
Regal jumping spiders are mostly found in fields and open woodland habitats. That said, they don’t do very well in hardwood forests. While juvie regal spiders thrive very well in herbaceous zones, sub-adult spiders favour palmettos and palms in semiarid habitats. In locations missing palms, adult regal jumping spiders won’t mind shrubs and trees.
Like we mentioned earlier, while this species of spiders can be found in the Greater Antilles, Bahamas and in Southern U.S, they are most common in peninsular Florida.
Top foods for regal jumping spiders
The regal jumping spider likes to roam around and hunt actively all day. And you’ll agree that these activities take up a lot of energy. So, to replenish lost energy and ensure that your spider friend stays healthy and active, you must ensure it feeds properly.
Thankfully, regal jumping spiders don’t eat much. So, feeding them once every 2-3 days shouldn’t be a lot of work. Now to the big question, what should you feed regal spiders? Stay with us as we will get to that in a bit.
To start with, regal jumping spiders love prey that moves around a lot, so anything from mealworms to flies to roaches or crickets should do.
And because regal jumping spiders are vicious hunters, they won’t hesitate to take on big prey.
That said, try to find one that is almost the same size or even smaller. That’s because some large prey can end up harming your spider friend, and we doubt if you’ll like that very much.
Are regal jumping spiders dangerous or venomous to humans?
Regal jumping spiders are friendly to humans. This explains why a lot of people want to keep them as pets. But guess what, these beautiful creatures have venoms that can incapacitate their prey, so you must handle them gently to avoid getting bitten.
Even though their bite is painful, their venoms don’t cause a lot of harm to humans. If you ever get bitten by a regal jumping spider, the most you’ll experience is redness and irritations that fades away after a couple of days.
So, to answer your questions, regal jumping spiders aren’t dangerous to humans.
Regal jumping spider temperament
Regal jumping spiders are loved for their adorable personality. Like the famous Lucas the spider, these spiders are intelligent, curious and love to jump. The icing on the cake is that regal jumping spiders like to bond with their owners, so you’ll get along with them almost easily.
When bred in captivity, regal jumping spiders will spend the bulk of the day sleeping in their web sack or jumping from one end of the enclosure to the next.
Frequently asked questions
Are regal jumping spiders friendly?
Like other species of jumping spiders, the Phidippus regius is very friendly to humans and not harmful at all.
Even though they are venomous, these cute little leapers tend to shy away from humans. And if you handle them gently, the chances of getting bitten is really low, so you have nothing to worry about.
How big do regal jumping spiders get?
The phidippus regius, commonly known as the regal jumping spider, has a very bold personality. While the adult male jumping spider has an average length of 6-18 mm, the female adult royal jumping spider measures 7 to 22 mm, with an average length of 15 mm.
Can you tame a regal jumping spider?
If what you want is a cuddly pet, we suggest you look elsewhere. Although regal jumping spiders are not aggressive, they can bite if they feel threatened.
While their venoms are not harmful to humans, you’ll have to deal with redness and irritations that linger for days if you ever get bitten.
Conclusion
Regal jumping spiders make great pets, and that’s all thanks to their adorable personalities. While they are vicious hunters, these gorgeous creatures are friendly to humans. And because they don’t eat so much, they are easy to care for.
