How Strong Are Jumping Spiders?
WouterJumping spiders are arachnids that are commonly found in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. They are venomous, but not poisonous to humans. They are not aggressive and only bite people in dangerous situations. If you find a jumping spider, carefully bring it to safety.
Approximately 6000 species of jumping spiders have been identified worldwide. Most of them are small, ranging from 0.1 to 2.5 cm in body length. Most species are omnivorous and feed on insects and other arthropods. Some of these animals are able to jump more than 50 times their own length.
In the United States, jumping spiders are known to live in the Southeastern region. They are known to be competent jumpers and use precise jumps to catch prey.
Jumping spiders use their eyes for hunting. They have four pairs of eyes: the anterior median pair is the most prominent. The other pairs of eyes function for peripheral vision. The largest pair of eyes is located in the center of the forehead.
Aside from their eyes, jumping spiders also have sensory hairs along their bodies. These are used to send signals to the spiders’ brains. They may use image defocus to determine the distance to an object.
They also have pheromones, which are used for social communication. These pheromones help the spiders communicate with other spiders. The spiders may wave their front legs in defensive postures and may have an occasional dance.
Jumping spiders can leap to great distances. They are capable of jumping 10-50 times their body length. They can also leap up to 20 feet in a single bound.
