With Halloween fast approaching, decorations featuring our eight-legged neighbors lining supermarket shelves and strewn across cottony webs to fright and delight trick-or-treaters on the 31st.
Arachnophobia, the fear of spiders, is among the most common. However, spiders are more scared of you than you are of them. But we know that not all fears are rational.
Looking to overcome your arachnophobia? Let Zoology introduce you to the Regal Jumping Spider! These little guys are gaining fast popularity around the web (pun intended). With their large forward-facing eyes and fuzzy little pedipalps, these spiders possess a certain cuteness not typically found in arachnids. But these spiders are more than just a pretty face.
5 Fun Facts About Jumping Spiders
1. They have the sharpest vision (visual acuity) of any arthropod.
Not only can jumping spiders see a more comprehensive range of colors than we can, but they also see the world in a higher "resolution" than the human eye.
2. They are considered to be the most intelligent arthropod
Jumping spiders are highly intelligent. They strategize how to hunt their prey and find the best angle to pounce. When kept as pets, jumping spiders learn to recognize their caregiver's face and can be taught to jump on command.
3. Jumping spiders don't use their webs to capture prey.
When you think of spiders, you'll probably think of webs. While jumping spiders secrete webbing from spinnerettes on their abdomens, it is not used to capture prey. Instead, jumping spiders use their webbing to construct shelters for themselves, either as tents or tiny hammocks.
4. Males sing and dance to woo their mates.
These little charmers are experts in romance. When it's time to make little spiders, the male jumping spider will wave and tap pedipalps and legs to get the female's attention. He may also emit a buzzing song to serenade her.
5. They are everywhere!
Jumping spiders belong to a large extended family of over 6,000 species worldwide. These little friends can be found on every continent outside of Antarctica and inhabit a variety of different habitats across the globe.
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