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Insects and other arthropods

Zebra spider

English
Salticus scenicus
Salticus scenicus
Photo: Flickr
Salticus scenicus
  • Salticus scenicus
  • Salticus scenicus

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Description

These are small, sturdy spiders, 5 to 7 mm long, with fairly short legs. They owe their name to the black and white (or brown and white) stripes on their hairy abdomens. As with all salticid (jumping) spiders, the two eyes on the front of the cephalothorax are much larger than the others.

These spiders can leap to attack their prey and move about.

Life cycle

The female uses the silk it produces to make an irregularly shaped sac, in which it lays 15 to 25 eggs. The young spiders emerge after about three weeks.

Geographic distribution

Zebra spiders are found throughout the Northern hemisphere. They occur in northeastern North America, including southwestern Quebec.

The species is native to Europe, and was introduced into Canada, the United States and Asia.

French name
Saltique chevronnée
Scientific name
Salticus scenicus
English name
Zebra spider (zebra jumper)
Class
Arachnida
Order
Araneae