All you need to know about jumping spiders

PROFESSIONAL snake catcher and nature enthusiast, Warren Dick, is on a mission to debunk myths that lead to people having the same feelings about spiders as they do for snakes, often believing they are dangerous and should be killed on sight.

However, there is so much more to be worried about with a fly in the kitchen than with a jumping spider.

Also read: Creepy jumping spiders are actually beneficial to your home

According to Warren, the most misunderstood species of spiders are jumping spiders. While they are venomous, their venom is of no consequence to humans whatsoever.

“I was bitten by a tick a few years ago. I saw the tick and pulled it off. Within a few hours, the area where the tick bit me started swelling, which I know to be a sign of tick-bite fever. I went to the doctor the next day for antibiotics, but judging from the big lump I had, the doctor repeatedly asked me if I was sure it was a tick bite and not a spider,” said Warren. There are many other insects that can inflict nasty bites.

“Jumping spiders are the group of spiders that I love the most and while trying to photograph them, I have had my fair share of bites and never had any reaction to them,” he said.

Jumping spiders have some of the best vision when it comes to arthropods. Their keen sense is used in courtship, hunting and day-to-day moving around. They have four pairs of eyes, three secondary pairs and a fixed pair in front that are much larger and are movable. The front large pair of eyes are what they see the best with.

“It’s their big eyes that have made me fall in love with them over the years,” said Warren.

According to Warren, there is a species of jumping spider called the Dandy, aka Portia, which is classed as the most intelligent spider in the world, and they are found in Durban. They are capable of thinking and solving problems.

The Dandy specialises in feeding on other spiders, particularly web-based spiders, which often entails thinking of ways to entice their prey out of their sticky web so the Dandy does not become stuck in the web. They can spend up to an hour thinking, plotting and planning on how they are going to attack their next meal, which can sometimes be as much as 200 times bigger than them.

The Dandy is a smallish spider, only growing to the size of a 20-cent coin.

Contact Warren to have some of your interesting insects, snakes or spiders identified – call or WhatsApp him on 072 211 0353.

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