stalks prey on the garden wall face
- Size
- Body: 0.5–1.5 cm
- Lifespan
- 1–2 years
- Diet
- Predatory - feeds on small insects including flies, mosquitoes, and other spiders. Hunts during the day using exceptional vision, stalking prey before pouncing. Does not build webs for catching prey but uses silk for safety lines and nest building.
- Habitat
- Everywhere: gardens, forests, houses, and fences. They are the "acrobats" of the insect world, found sunning themselves on leaves or stalking prey on walls.
- Range
- New Zealand - found throughout the North and South Islands in forests, gardens, homes, and urban areas. Most common in lowland regions with diverse insect prey and sunny conditions for hunting.
- Endemism
- Native
- Main Threats
- Habitat loss from forest clearance and urban development. Also threatened by pesticide use in gardens which kills both spiders and their prey, and by competition from introduced jumping spider species.
- Population
- New Zealand is home to many species of jumping spiders, including the intelligent Portia. They are widespread and adaptable, thriving in both native and modified environments. They are beneficial predators that control flies and other pests.
- Conservation Status
- Not Threatened
- Human Risk
- harmless
- Handling Note
- native jumping spider, curious hunter leaves undisturbed
- Conservation Note
- Native spider; widespread in native forests and not subject to conservation assessment.
- Te Ao Māori
- While specific myths about jumping spiders are less common than for web-weavers, their agility and "watchful" eyes made them symbols of alertness and quick thinking in Māori culture. The name "peke" (to jump) captures their dynamic nature. In some stories, small, agile creatures were seen as messengers who could move quickly between the physical and spiritual realms, carrying news or warnings. The jumping spider's ability to see in multiple directions (with its secondary eyes) was akin to having a spiritual awareness of the surroundings, never being caught unaware.
The Jumping Spider is the "charismatic megafauna" of the tiny world. With their large, forward-facing eyes that give them binocular vision and a cute, fuzzy appearance, they are the only spiders that seem to look you in the eye with genuine curiosity. They do not build webs to catch food; instead, they are active hunters, stalking their prey with the stealth of a cat before launching a precise, gravity-defying leap to land directly on top of it. Some can jump over 40 times their own body length, a feat of hydraulic engineering that uses blood pressure rather than muscles to power the launch.
New Zealand is home to the famous Portia fimbriata, often cited as one of the most intelligent invertebrates on Earth. Portia doesn't just hunt; it plans. It can map out complex routes to reach prey, detour around obstacles, and even mimic the vibrations of other insects on a web to lure them out. They have been observed solving problems and learning from past mistakes, displaying a cognitive ability that rivals some vertebrates.
They are diurnal hunters, loving the sun, and are often seen doing a little "dance" or waving their front legsPopulation Notea behavior used for communication and courtship. Males often have flashy decorations or bright colours to impress females. Despite their predatory nature, they are harmless to humans and make fascinating pets for those who look closely. They are the playful, intelligent face of the arachnid world, proving that big things come in small, fuzzy packages.