Jumping Spiders
Originally published in July 2018, refreshed in 2026.
Ever had an exciting cup of coffee? Well, I did today! In my vorige bericht I mentioned a spider, remember? Here’s the rest of the story ☕
Preparing the coffee
Sometimes you just need another cup of coffee, even though you’ve already had quite a few. I have a lot of those moments 😉 So there I was, cup next to the coffee machine. As I picked it up, something moved away from me, fast. Through the air! Honestly, it scared me for a moment. One quick look, and I was off to grab my Fuji X30 (great macro function).
A jumping spider
The little thing jumping away was a jumping spider 🕷️ I see them a lot around the house and on the balcony. In bad weather they hide in small silk shelters in cracks and crevices, where they also spend the winter, and we have plenty of those hiding places around the house.
Jumping spiders are active during the day and love warm, sunny spots. They stalk their prey on the ground, on walls or in bushes, and when an unlucky victim comes within reach… jump! Fun fact: not all jumping spiders are pure carnivores, some also feed partly on nectar.
Spider vs camera
I tried to take a photo of my little friend, and it attacked the camera, jumping against the lens and onto the top of the camera. A brave little spider for sure!
They jump by hydraulically stretching their hind legs, both to catch prey and to escape enemies. Before each jump they attach a safety thread, just in case they miss. But the jump is usually so well calculated that the prey has little chance. And neither did my camera! 😄
An exciting coffee indeed
So yes, it really was an exciting coffee, especially because I managed to capture this beautiful creature. A highly respected photographer whose work I know always adds this line to his photos: “You have got to love nature and its creations.” Nothing is truer than that 🌿
Enjoy! ✨