Zebra Jumping Spider.
One of the commonest spiders you can find around the house is the zebra spider, Salticus scenicus. You can find it sitting on the wall or on a window-frame but it is not so easy to spot. It is a tiny spider with a body size that doesn't exceed 8 millimetres. The zebra spider belongs to the jumping spiders. It does not make a web but stalks its prey. It will use a silk thread as an anchor. When it spots an insect it will slowly try to approach it. Now and then when it is out of the victim's sight the zebra spider will run. When it is within reach it will jump and paralyse the prey with its venomous 'jaws'.
To be able to capture prey like this jumping spiders rely on superb eye sight. Their eyes are truly remarkable. The front pair is the most impressive. They can be regarded as the best eyes you can find in any arthropod. They work as a telephoto lens. The retina inside the eye can move in 3 dimensions enabling the spider to look in all directions and focus on a subject. When you approach a jumping spider it will position itself so it can observe you. The 6 other eyes are positioned around the head for a 360 degrees vision.
Zebra Jumping Spider.
One of the commonest spiders you can find around the house is the zebra spider, Salticus scenicus. You can find it sitting on the wall or on a window-frame but it is not so easy to spot. It is a tiny spider with a body size that doesn't exceed 8 millimetres. The zebra spider belongs to the jumping spiders. It does not make a web but stalks its prey. It will use a silk thread as an anchor. When it spots an insect it will slowly try to approach it. Now and then when it is out of the victim's sight the zebra spider will run. When it is within reach it will jump and paralyse the prey with its venomous 'jaws'.
To be able to capture prey like this jumping spiders rely on superb eye sight. Their eyes are truly remarkable. The front pair is the most impressive. They can be regarded as the best eyes you can find in any arthropod. They work as a telephoto lens. The retina inside the eye can move in 3 dimensions enabling the spider to look in all directions and focus on a subject. When you approach a jumping spider it will position itself so it can observe you. The 6 other eyes are positioned around the head for a 360 degrees vision.