Spiders are an important part of our ecosystem, even though many of us are scared when we see them. There are many different types of spiders in the southern US., including the state of Florida. One of those types of spiders is called jumping spiders. They are the largest family of spiders and are made up of over 5,000 species. How long do jumping spiders live? Jumping spiders can live from six months to two years but as a pet up to three years.
What Are Jumping Spiders?
The scientific name for this type of spider is Salticidae. They are of various shapes, sizes, and colors, and are found in forests, mountainous areas, tropical forests, deserts, and grasslands. They are also common throughout the state of Florida and these spiders are known for their three rows of eyes. Sounds pretty crazy, right? The bodies are small and measure less than 15 mm.
They are different than many types of spiders in that they don’t make webs but they do hunt during the daytime. Jumping spiders take out their victims by jumping on them. The bodies are bright in color and even though they are crazy looking, they are not dangerous to humans like other spiders we see in Florida.
Lifecycle of Jumping Spiders
Just like other pests, jumping spiders mate. The female spider mates with the male and then keeps the spermatophores in reserve. She does this until she feels it is the right time to lay eggs. It depends on the species as to how many eggs the female lays. However, it does range from a couple hundred to over a thousand eggs.
When the female feels it is time to lay eggs, she drops the eggs into the egg sac. This egg sac was created by the female and then she fertilizes them. This sac is made from silk and keeps the eggs safe as it keeps prey away. After a few weeks, the eggs start hatching.
Types of Jumping Spiders
The jumping spider Phidippus Audax is known as a bold jumping spider. This type of spider is small, has good eyesight, and can jump a long distance to catch prey. Phidippus audax is the most common jumping spider that humans will come in contact with.
P. Audax as they are also known is a hairy spider that is black. The female jumping spiders are about 8 to 19 millimeters, while the male jumping spiders are 6 to 13 millimeters. Additionally, the body has a green hue that is iridescent in color. The abdomen has spots of yellow, white, and orange.
Other species of jumping spider are Plexippus paykulli. It is known as a pantropical jumper in that people brought it to Florida from Asian countries. Usually found near buildings because they are attracted to light at night and they catch their prey near the lights as well. Both types of jumping spiders eat mosquitoes, flies, and other human pests that they catch.
How Do Jumping Spiders Get Into Buildings?
These spiders get into homes and businesses often without being noticed. This is because they hunt during the daytime and are often looking for prey in gardens, plants that are in pots, deck railings, and trellises. They also look for crevices in foundations and window screens that are torn to get inside.
Another place jumping spiders tend to live is inside tree trunks, rock piles, logs, and timber. Often these materials go to a home improvement store so they get into people’s homes when the customers purchase these items.
Recommended Maintenance
Now that you know about jumping spiders, let’s take a look at a few other areas.
One area is powder post beetles. When looking for a home, should you buy one that has powder post beetles? Well, don’t rule it out but also make sure you have a pest control company come in to take a look at the damage.
Another area is boxelder bugs. If you have a boxelder tree in your yard, you may have these bugs. The boxelder bugs cling to sheds, homes, and garages. If you are bitten by one, which is rare, they will leave a red spot that looks like a mosquito bite on your skin.
Lastly, as we are in the spring months, this is the perfect time of the year to replace the mulch in the flower beds. One thing that homeowners think about is if the mulch will attract termites. It will depend on the type of mulch you buy as some do attract termites, while others repel termites.
When Do I Call A Professional?
If you find that these spiders are taking over your home or building, calling a professional pest control company to take a look is a good idea. Investing in a pest control service is a good idea so it is one less area you have to worry about. Chances are you don’t just have issues with spiders but other pests and a professional company can take care of this for you.
Conclusion
Proper pest control is important to have in place before you have any big issues. Spiders often take care of other pests around the home as they are good for the ecosystem, but calling on your local pest control team to assist you with spider issues and other pest issues is a great idea. Reach out to AAA pest control to get your spiders and other pest issues under control in Oakland Park, FL, and the surrounding South Florida areas.