How To Spot And Get Rid Of Jumping Spiders In Your Home

The most important thing you must ever do when it comes to jumping spiders is to keep them away from your children, and the reason is simple: They are very cute, and once your kids get a good look at one you're never going to be able to do your duty in getting rid of them. But they're also among the top 10 most common spiders in your home. House Digest spoke exclusively with Dr. Jim Fredericks, board-certified entomologist and Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), about the risks, characteristics, and control of jumping spiders, and he had a little bad news that's not all that bad, along with a lot of good news.

First, you can spot a jumping spider due to its big eyes; though they aren't for charming people, it might not be a bad survival strategy. "These large eyes are used for hunting prey," Fredericks explained. "Unlike most spiders that sit and wait on webs, jumping spiders are active daytime hunters who prefer sunshine." So, as much as they might look like fuzzy little curious, eight-legged teddy bears waving at you, all the cute stuff is actually part of what makes them good at being spiders, like seeing well and always having a handle on their environments. 

To get rid of these spiders, prevention is key (you'll want to eliminate food sources). "Here's the good news," Fredericks continued. "Jumping spiders pose minimal risk to people and pets. Bites are uncommon and not medically significant. Like most spiders, they rarely bite and don't pose a threat to humans. Jumping spiders would much rather run or jump away when a human approaches." Ultimately, the warning signs of a jumping spider infestation might not be the stuff of horror movies. 

Jumping spiders are easy to identify, though entomologist Dr. Jim Fredericks told House Digest in his exclusive interview that they are still occasionally confused with black widows, but only because of their size and short legs. So, how do you identify members of the jumping spider family? "Jumping spiders are small and compact, typically ranging from about 1/8 to 3/4 inch in size," Fredericks said. "They're often covered in dense hairs or scales that give them a fuzzy appearance. While many people picture them as compact black spiders, they actually come in a variety of colors — they can be black, brown, tan, or gray with pale white, gray, yellow, red, blue, or green markings." Small and fuzzy, then. But the defining appearance characteristic is probably those eyes. "One of the things that stands out about this spider is the large eyes found on the front of its cephalothorax," Fredericks said.

It also helps to know when and where you might expect to find jumping spiders. Fredericks said they're most active when it's warm, and are the largest in size and in number around late summer and early fall, both indoors and out. Because they're hunters, Fredericks said you can usually spot them indoors around sunny spots where they're most likely to find other insects. Check for them by windows and doors, hidden in spots like drapery folds and between shelved books, and around boundaries like corners, cracks in wood floors, and near moldings and baseboard trim. Outside, look for them in and under tree bark, around fences and decks, between leaves, and on sunny exterior walls.

Perhaps the simplest way to spot a jumping spider at any distance is, well, the jumping (and their speed and agility in general). House Digest spoke exclusively with pest-management expert Dr. Jim Fredericks, who filled us in on the behavior of jumping spiders. "Jumping spiders don't build snare webs to catch prey," he reiterated. Instead, jumping spiders hunt actively, like wolf spiders. "They're excellent hunters thanks to their jumping ability and swift reflexes," Fredericks said. "These spiders can rapidly move both sideways and backward for short distances, then pounce on passing prey."

And the pouncing is impressive, "These spiders can leap impressive distances," Fredericks said, "up to 20 times their body length when threatened and up to 50 times when hunting or escaping predators." Jumping spiders have some special characteristics and behaviors that create and support their abilities. For example, while other spiders might use their silk to form webs, jumping spiders use theirs as a sort of dragline to keep them from falling and give them an easy return path. They need this behavior because of the extraordinary jumping, which Fredericks said "is made possible by an internal hydraulic system that allows them to alter the pressure of fluids in their legs, resulting in a spring-like motion that propels them forward."

Since jumping spiders are harmless, cute, and bold to the point of seeming curious, how do you go about keeping them under control? Are pesticides necessary and, if so, will your kids allow it? In his exclusive interview with House Digest, Dr. Jim Fredericks encouraged homeowners to focus on keeping spiders and their food out of your home. "Prevention is your best defense," he said. "Jumping spiders enter through tiny gaps, so seal every potential entry point." This is a complex, multi-faceted process that might involve caulking around cracks, gaps, and penetrations in walls, and keeping door sweeps, weather stripping, and screens in good repair. Keep out-of-the-way spaces like attics, garages, and basements free of clutter. And try not to import jumping spiders (or their eggs) that are stowaways on boxes, potted plants, firewood, and the like.

Your goal isn't just to prevent spiders from entering, but also to eliminate their food source. "If you're seeing lots of them, look for the root cause," Fredericks said. "A sudden influx of jumping spiders usually means you have plenty of insect prey around entry points and light sources." Since jumping spiders prey on insect pests, you could think of them as beneficial spiders you may not want to kill. And if you can't get a handle on the spiders or their buggy buffet, know when to call in the big guns. "If you suspect a spider infestation in your home or you're seeing large numbers of jumping spiders, contact a licensed pest control professional to handle the infestation," Fredericks said.