…otherwise known as the Jumping House Spider. According to Britains Spiders*, this species was first recorded in England in 1930. An online search supports this view, with several sites saying this initial record was in Devon. All sources agree that the species has spread across the country and into Scotland since this time. With distribution maps confirming our area (Bristol, UK) is one of the many places it is locally recorded.
It appears more associated with human habitation than the wider urban or countryside space. Our visitor was first recorded indoors, on the back door. On opening the door it scarpered out into the big wide world. Elsewhere, it is typically found on the external walls and roofs of houses. So our visitor should have plenty of places to go if it decides to stay outside now that spring is on it’s way. Wikipedia suggests these guys feed on things like booklice, which we have recorded in the Garden.
We have mentioned before that one Garden favourite of ours is the Zebra Spider, which belongs in the same family as this new visitor. However, on this occassion it is fair to say the Jumping House Spider was much less inquistive than its close relative.
Anyway, we are hoping to see more of these guys over the coming years, and ideally get some better images, showing this spiders massive eyes (typical of this family), just google its latin name above and you’ll see what we mean.
DC: 18.02.2024
*Bee, L & Oxford G & Smith H. (2020) Britain’s Spiders: A field Guide. Second edition. Oxfordshire: Princeton University Press
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