Jumping spiders belong to the Salticidae family and are predators known for their exceptional vision – they have 8 eyes – and very diverse hunting strategies.
Over 5,000 species of jumping spiders have been recorded worldwide, with the exception of Antarctica, where they are not present. However, new species are still being discovered; some have even been seen on Mount Everest.
Because these arachnids have a vast number of species, it is difficult to pinpoint only one type of feeding behaviour. Their dietary preferences are diverse and vary depending on species, prey availability, and environmental conditions.
Although the type of feeding behaviour is very different from one species to another, it can be said that most of their food preferences are carnivores, which is very much like any other spider.
However, one thing that can be said about jumping spiders is that, although they are arachnids, most have lost the ability to build spiderwebs. Unlike web-building spiders, jumping spiders rely on their high-acuity eyesight and agile movements to track, stalk, and pounce on their prey.
Jumping spiders’ nutritional intake consists mainly of insects, including ants, fruit flies, crickets, and small roaches.
However, answering the question of what to feed a jumping spider may not be that simple, and some important facts need to be considered.
Main Takeaways
- Jumping spiders belong to the Salticidae family and have exceptional vision. They hunt using agility rather than webs. There are over 5,000 species worldwide, each with different feeding behaviours.
- Most jumping spiders are carnivorous, primarily preying on insects like ants, flies, crickets, and moths. They are attracted to movement, and they prefer active and moving prey.
- Certain jumping spiders are araneophagic, meaning they hunt and eat other spiders.
- Predatory techniques vary—some use web invasion, mimicry, or direct ambush strategies.
- Jumping spiders generally prefer live prey but may occasionally scavenge dead insects.
- Some larger species, like Phidippus regius, have been observed preying on small vertebrates like frogs and lizards.
- Feeding frequency varies by age, species, and environment—juveniles eat more frequently than adults.
- They use extra-oral digestion, injecting venom and liquefying their prey before consumption.
- Some species can consume nectar or pollen, especially young spiders who struggle with hunting.
- Limited evidence suggests they might consume their molted exoskeleton for nutrients.
- They are essential in controlling insect populations and can benefit agriculture by preying on pests.
Insectivorous Diet and Hunting Behavior Of Jumping Spiders
Jumping spiders feed primarily on insects, with their hunting behaviour often influenced by their prey’s movement and activity level. As active hunters, these arachnids primarily target live insects, such as flies, mosquitoes, and moths, which serve as their main sustenance.
Studies on Phidippus audax (the regal jumping Spider), a common species of jumping spider, indicate that these arachnids prefer those that show high activity and movement levels. Also, the higher the crawling velocities, the more attracted they seem to be.
Interestingly, prey selection does not seem strongly correlated with the prey’s size, length, or mass but mostly with movements. However, once a prey item is detected, often according to movement activity, jumping spiders adjust their attack strategy based on the prey’s size—pursuing larger insects more cautiously and exhibiting longer handling times.
This characteristic probably shows a learned approach to hunting, cautiously prey that could be dangerous for them.
Specialized Predation on Ants
Some jumping spider species have specialized predatory behaviour, and ants are one of the main insects on which they prey.
Anasaitis canosa, the twin-flagged jumping spider, is particularly effective at hunting ants in nature. Field observations have documented A. Canosa feeding on various invertebrates, but it has the greatest skills and adaptations to feed on ants.
However, it is not clear if this behaviour is kept in captivity, and further studies are required to determine whether the species exhibits the same preferences in controlled laboratory conditions.
Predatory Strategies in Salticidae
Salticids possess a broad range of predatory behaviours, many of which are facilitated by their acute vision. While most salticid species are skilled runners, their hunter strategy mainly consists of stalking and leaping onto their prey.
Spartaeine jumping spiders have evolved different strategies, such as web invasion (eating prey cached by other spiders), aggressive mimicry (pretending to be another insect and attracting them), and even araneophagy (spider-eating behaviour).
Araneophagy: Spiders Hunting Spiders
There is evidence that shows jumping spiders can also be araneophagic. That means some species of the family Salticid can prey on and feed on other spiders.
Jumping spiders in the genera Brettus, Cocalus, Cyrba, Gelotia, Holcolaetis, Mintonia, Neobrettus, Phaeacius, and Portia specialize in preying on other spiders.
Some of these spiders can invade webs to attack other spiders and remarkably, web-invading of the species of spartaeines have developed glue immunity, allowing them to traverse sticky silk strands without becoming trapped—an adaptation unique among spiders.
Other araneophagic jumping spiders use mimicry to deceive and ambush prey, and they can hunt directly on tree trunks and rock surfaces.
Prey-Specific Tactics and Prey Size Considerations
Researchers have studied several species of jumping spiders over the years. These studies have revealed different hunting techniques, and there are differences between species.
For example, researchers find that the species Menemerus semilimbatus and Menemerus bivittatus employ different techniques
depending on the type of prey they are hunting. M. semilimbatus uses a specialized technique for preying on flies; when they encounter flies, they approach them from behind to ensure a successful ambush.Similar behaviour has been recorded in M. bivittatus when hunting stingless bees. These behaviours are probably adaptations that show the evolutionary flexibility of jumping spiders in optimizing their hunting strategies for different prey types.
Another interesting finding is that Jumping spiders tend to exhibit a distinct preference for live prey. They like primarily to target small live arthropods such as flies, mosquitoes, moths, and ants.
Scavenging Behavior: Will Jumping Spiders Eat Dead Insects?
Jumping spiders are primarily active hunters who rely on their keen vision to detect and capture live prey, such as insects and other small arthropods. This predatory behaviour is a key aspect of their natural hunting strategy.
While jumping spiders prefer live prey, there have been occasional observations of them consuming dead insects.
For example, a male Anasaitis Canosa was observed picking up and feeding on a dead mosquito. Such instances suggest that, although scavenging is not typical behaviour for jumping spiders, they may opportunistically consume dead prey under certain circumstances.
In captivity, offering live prey is essential to stimulate natural hunting behaviours and ensure the spider’s well-being. Providing live insects encourages physical activity and mental engagement, which are important for maintaining their health. Therefore, while jumping spiders might occasionally consume dead insects, providing live prey to mimic their natural hunting conditions is best.
Jumping Spiders and Vertebrate Predation
Although insects and other invertebrates make up the majority of the diet for jumping spiders, some larger species have been documented preying on small vertebrates.
The regal jumping spider (Phidippus regius) has been observed capturing and consuming small frogs (Hyla spp., Osteopilus septentrionalis) and lizards (Anolis carolinensis, Anolis sagrei).
Some jumping spiders have been seen attacking bird hatchlings, but such behaviour is rare among salticids and has only been recorded in a few species, including Phidippus audax.
These instances suggest that vertebrate predation by salticids may be more widespread than previously thought.
How Often Do Jumping Spiders Eat?
Jumping spiders are opportunistic predators, and because they feed primarily on insects and other small arthropods, their feeding frequency depends on factors such as prey availability. Environmental conditions, the spider’s age, and reproductive status can also play a role in their feeding frequency.
In controlled experiments, the jumping spider Phidippus clarus consumed an average of 17 fruit flies in a four-hour session, with some individuals consuming up to 41 flies. This suggests that jumping spiders can eat multiple times within a short period when prey is abundant. However, their feeding frequency may vary in natural settings depending on the factors above.
Smaller spiders, including juveniles, typically require more frequent meals than their adult counterparts. Spiderlings often need feeding two to three times daily to sustain their rapid growth and development.
As they mature into sub-adults, their feeding frequency decreases, and they can feed every three to seven days.
Adult jumping spiders can extend this interval further, often waiting between five to ten days before seeking their next meal.
The feeding frequency is not solely determined by age and size; environmental factors also play a significant role. For instance, active hunters may increase their feeding frequency during periods of peak activity, which often correlates with warmer months or times when prey is plentiful.
Female jumping spiders exhibit increased feeding frequency during egg development to guarantee adequate nutritional support for reproduction.
Seasonal variations and temperature fluctuations can influence hunting behaviour and appetite, affecting how often these spiders need to feed. In environments where prey is scarce, even adult jumping spiders may adjust their feeding habits to optimize energy intake and sustain survival.
How Do Jumping Spiders Consume Their Prey?
Like most spiders, salticids also feed using extra-oral digestion. This means that the spider bites and injects venom into its prey to subdue
it, and then bathes it in digestive enzymes before sucking up the
liquefied product.
Can Jumping Spiders Eat Fruit or Vegetables?
Salticids are associated with instances of plant-eating behaviour, although this is not their main means of feeding. Situations in which jumping spiders ingest nectar or pollen from the flower have been described.
Although no spider can survive only on a plant-based diet, phytophagous jumping spiders are more common than in other species. Nectar can provide young spiders with nutritional elements that they may find difficult to get through hunting. Young jumping spiders are not good hunters, so using plants as a source of nutrition can be very important.
In addition, insectivorous spiders may indirectly benefit plants by preying on or influencing the behavior of phytophagous insects that damage plants.
Do Jumping Spiders Eat Their Molt?
Jumping spiders, like other arachnids, undergo a process called molting. In this process, they shed their external skeleton, allowing their body to grow to grow. During this process, they produce an enzyme that they use to break down the old exoskeleton and facilitate its removal.
While some spider species consume their molted exoskeletons to use their nutritional constituents, limited specific information exists on this behaviour in jumping spiders.
However, it is plausible that they might engage in such behaviour, as it provides nutritional benefits.
Ecological Impact and Role
Jumping spiders are proficient hunters, and their prey activities can be important in maintaining their ecosystems and regulating insect populations.
Jumping spiders are generalist predators, adept at capturing a wide array of arthropods, which can contribute to maintaining ecological balance. Their predation on various species aids in regulating prey species.
They can also target agricultural pests, which means they can benefit natural habitats and have practical implications for agricultural areas where pest control is important. Their presence in gardens, forests, and urban environments shows their ecological impact across diverse habitats.
Furthermore, jumping spiders influence the dynamics within spider habitats by preying on other spiders, including web-builders. This behaviour affects competition and community structure.
Conclusion
Jumping spiders are fascinating and diverse predators with complex hunting behaviours and dietary preferences.
Unlike web-building spiders, they rely on exceptional vision and agility to track, stalk, and ambush their prey.
While their diet primarily consists of insects such as flies, ants, and moths, some species exhibit specialized hunting strategies, including preying on other spiders and even small vertebrates.
Their adaptability extends beyond carnivory, as some species have been observed consuming nectar or scavenging when necessary.
The feeding habits of jumping spiders shape their survival strategies and have broader ecological impacts, helping regulate insect populations and benefiting agricultural environments.
Understanding their dietary needs is crucial for those in captivity, as providing live prey is essential for their health and natural behaviours.
These remarkable arachnids continue to intrigue researchers, and ongoing studies will likely uncover even more about their feeding ecology and role in ecosystems.
