Tan jumping spiders are easy to identify, thanks to their unique features. These intelligent creatures are furry, tinny, and sport an enormous front facing eye, which gives them an almost mammal-like appearance.
Unlike other jumping spider species, tan jumping spiders have a brilliant set of eyes that wraps around their head. This gives them that 360-degree vision they are famous for.
Plus, they have a hairy body with exciting shades of brown. This helps them to blend into their surroundings easily.
Tan jumping spider scientific name and origin
Although there are commonly called tan jumping spiders, these fantastic creatures are scientifically called Platycryptus Undatus. They are named so because of the undulating wavy pattern on the upper part of their abdomen.
While they can be found in North and Central America, they are most common in the Eastern States as well as Canada, Wisconsin, and Texas.
Another thing you should know about tan jumping spiders is that they have a small body size. While the females measure between 10 and 13 mm, the males range from 8.5 to 9.5 mm.
Tan jumping spider range
Like we mentioned earlier, Tan jumping spiders are mostly found in the Eastern United States. That said, this jumping spider species are likely to be found on vertical surfaces like fence posts, tree trunks, and walls of people’s home.
If you ever find them in human dwellings, they are generally harmless. But if handled roughly, tan jumping spiders aren’t scared to let out painful bites.
More commonly, you’ll find tan jumping spiders on or under the peeling bark of shagbark hickories.
While our furry friends are predators who go all out searching for their prey, they can also be eaten by various predators, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and wasps.
Although they don’t have many defense mechanisms, tan jumping spiders are skilled jumpers capable of evading any perceived threat.
How big is a tan jumping spider?
In terms of size, tan jumping spiders don’t have an imposing personality. Also, the females appear a lot bigger than the males. To give you some perspective, the female tan jumping spider is believed to measure around 10-13 mm, while their male counterparts measure between 8.5-9.5 mm.
Although they both have a dominant brown shade of colors, the male tan jumping spider sports a unique stripe of orange color near its front eyes. This makes it super easy to identify.
And don’t be fooled by its small size; these little leapers can devour an averaged size grasshopper.
What does a tan jumping spider eat?
Like most jumping spiders, the tan jumping spider will feed on small insects like flies, aphids, crickets, roaches, mealworms, and other small spiders. Thanks to their impeccable jumping and hunting skills, these little leapers can fend for themselves in the wild.
But when bred in captivity, you have to make sure they feed properly since they are no longer able to hunt themselves. We doubt that should be a problem, especially considering that tan jumping spiders don’t overeat. Plus, their foods are readily available and can be caught around your home.
But if you don’t have the time to catch their prey, you can easily get some from pet stores close to you or order online if that’s more convenient.
Do tan jumping spiders spin webs?
Unlike their cousins who build webs, the tan jumping spider doesn’t spin webs in a bid to hunt down prey. Instead, they patiently wait on their prey and take them out with precision jumps.
Is it dangerous or venomous to humans?
This is one question we get asked a lot, and today, we want to set the record straight, once and for all.
Tan jumping spiders are known to be friendly to humans when handled gently. And although they aren’t inclined to bite, they aren’t scared to bite if handled roughly.
While they have venoms potent enough to incapacitate their prey, their venoms aren’t harmful to humans. So, should you ever get bitten by our furry friends, the most you’ll notice is redness and irritations that fade away after a couple of days.
Fun facts about tan jumping spiders
Like most jumping spider species, the tan jumping spider is friendly and curious at the same time. If they feel safe enough, they will stare and approach people to get a closer look. Thanks to their superior eye sights, tan spiders enjoy a 360-degree vision. This, in addition to their jumping skills, makes hunting down prey easy.
The undulating pattern on their abdomen earned them the scientific name “undatus.”
Can you keep tan jumping spiders as pets?
For people interested in exotic pets, you’ll be happy to know that you can keep tan jumping spiders as pets. And that’s because they are friendly and easy to handle. Even though they are venomous, their venom isn’t potent enough to cause any harm to humans.
And because they eat moderately, caring for our leaper friends isn’t all that difficult. And just so you know, spiders only eat at least once in 2-3 days.
Frequently asked questions
How long do tan jumping spiders live for?
Compared to other jumping spider species, the tan jumping spider has a pretty decent lifespan. While other jumping spider species can survive up to 6 months, the tan jumping spider can live up to three years, especially when properly cared for.
What can’t tan jumping spiders eat?
While tan jumping spiders can comfortably eat flies, crickets, roaches, and mealworms, try not to feed them ants, fireflies, beetles, and other spiders. This group of prey can be aggressive and poisonous, so you may end up hurting your spider friend.
Also, they don’t do too well with ants. And that’s because some ants are known to spray dangerous acids that can hurt spiders.
How big can tan jumping spiders get?
Tan jumping spiders are known for their small size. Plus, they don’t grow as big as other species of jumping spiders.
To start with, the female tan jumping spider measures around 10-13 mm. On the flip side, their male counterparts are slightly smaller and measure around 8.5-9.5 mm.
