The Saitis barbipes is quite a common jumping spider that belongs to the family Salticidae. This gorgeous jumping spider looks every shade of amazing and displays all of the exciting behaviors and antics we have come to love about our spider friends.
Right from the get-go, these creepy yet friendly crawlers have a lot going for them as far as physical description and size are concerned; plus, they like to feed on small and large insects when they are in the wild.
For spider lovers looking for more elaborate details about the Saitis barbipes, you’re in the right place as today’s post has all the information you’re looking for and more.
What is their scientific name?
With our furry friend, we haven’t come across a common name which it goes by, and that’s because its scientific name has always taken precedence. As per the scientific name, this jumping spider is popularly referred to as the Saitis barbipes.
And for those who have no idea, our furry friend is a common spider that is usually spotted in the Mediterranean region. Here, they are commonly found in houses, on rocks, and even outdoors.
The intriguing thing about the Saitis barbipes is that it displays a range of similarities with the Australian peacock spider and the Maratus volans. That’s all thanks to its green eyes and enlarged third pair of legs that come alive during courtship displays.
Physical description and size
The Saitis barpipes jumping spider is characterized by a significant sexual dimorphism. While males of this species appear a little smaller and measure 3.8 to 4 mm in body length, females are slightly bigger and measure between 4.6 to 5.7 mm.
As per size, the Saitis barpipes is a medium-sized jumping spider and doesn’t measure up to some of the big species of jumping spider out there.
Away from their size, our furry friends have a lot going on in terms of physical description. To start with, females of this jumping spider species spot a not so evident coloration, and that’s because of their dull brown body, which is accentuated by dark or blackish eyes, followed by pale brown legs with little or no drawing.
On the other hand, the smaller male appears brightly colored, especially when viewed frontally. Besides its bright emerald eyes that will keep you fixated on this jumping spider, its four white frontal legs are densely covered with hairs, which are sometimes interspersed by black stripes and a red band above the eyes. For easy identification, the band of red extends on each side to the rear pair of eyes.
In general, the Saitis barbipes have a pale brown cephalothorax, which is rather hairy above the eyes. Their abdomen (opisthosoma) features a laterally dark and bordered longitudinal band on the upper side.
In Europe, our furry friends appear to be the most colorful species of jumping spiders you’ll come across.
Where do they come from?
Given the fact that our furry friends can quickly adapt to any environment they find themselves in, you’ll most likely find them both in their natural range and outside of their natural range. But to give you some perspective, the Saitis barbipes is present in the Mediterranean region, especially from the South of Europe (Germany, Italy, Bulgaria, Greece, North Macedonia, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Spain) to North Africa and in Turkey.
Habitat
There isn’t a lot of information about their preferred habitat. However, from what we have gathered during research, the Saitis barbipes are commonly sighted in human settlements, especially indoors and on rocky surfaces.
Unique behaviors
One of our spider friends’ stand-out features is their long third pair of legs that enables them to execute daring jumps. When they aren’t using their legs to jump, it doubles as a tool for courtship display. When males come across their female counterparts, they tend to raise and wave their third pair of legs to attract attention.
From time to time, males will audibly vibrate their legs to send out more distinct signals. A receptive female who accepts the invitation to mate will then collapse her legs while turning her abdomen ventral side upward.
Diet/feeding
When it comes to feeding, the Saitis barbipes jumping spider doesn’t eat anything outside of the everyday spider foods. This means they will readily feed on small and large insects like mosquitoes, flies, mealworms, crickets, and web-building spiders.
And because they are agile jumpers and skillful hunters, our furry friends can fend for themselves in the wild. That said, if you’re planning to keep our spider friend in captivity, you’ll have to provide feeder insects that you can either catch around your home or order from pet stores close to you.
What is their temperament?
Jumping spiders aren’t aggressive towards humans, and that’s all thanks to their friendly nature. While they will viciously hunt down prey, they tend to shy away when they come in contact with humans.
Today, many exotic pet lovers enjoy raising the Saitis barbipes as pets because of their friendly nature and exciting spider antics.
Is it dangerous or venomous to humans?
Without mincing words, spiders are vicious hunters who can take out their prey with their devastating jumps. More so, their venom is powerful enough to knock out prey. The only good thing is that their venom isn’t harmful to humans. And just in case you ever get bitten by our spider friend, the most you’ll notice is slight pain and irritations that fizzles away after a couple of days.
Frequently asked questions
How big can they get?
While adult males of this species measure between 3.8mm to 4 mm, females are slightly bigger as they measure nearly 4.6 mm to 5.7 mm.
How often do they feed?
Most jumping spiders do not eat very much. Plus, they can go a week without food. But to ensure they feed correctly, it’s okay to feed them once every two to three days.
Can you keep them as pets?
Generally, jumping spiders make excellent pets, and that’s because of their friendly nature, bright and attractive colors, and exciting antics.
