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How to identify it
Look-alikes
| Look-alike | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| Bold jumping spider | A larger common jumping spider with three white to red dots on the abdomen.[2] |
Where it lives
Common in and around buildings in Minnesota and South Carolina.[1][2]
Biology and life cycle
It hunts by day, especially around windows and other sunny spots in spring and summer.[1][2]
Females guard eggs in egg sacs of about 80 to 100 eggs each.[2]
Damage and signs
- No damage: jumping spiders eat houseflies, beetles and other pests.[2]
Health risk
Not harmful; jumping spiders usually flee when detected.[2]
Control
Keep them out
Keep windows and doors screened and sealed with weather stripping.[2]
Traps and physical control
Pick it up with a glass or dish and release it outside.[2]
Common questions
Sources
- University of Minnesota Extension (What insect is this?), “Zebra spider.” apps.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/insect/indoor/relatives/medium/zebra-spider.html (accessed 2026-10-16)
- Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center, “Jumping Spiders (HGIC factsheet).” hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/jumping-spiders/ (accessed 2026-10-16)
- iNaturalist, “Salticus scenicus taxon page (order and family).” www.inaturalist.org/taxa/68901 (accessed 2026-10-06)