Tennessee's Jumping Spiders: More Adorable Than You Think
2025-04-05
Tennessee is home to a surprisingly diverse array of jumping spiders (Salticidae), small, diurnal creatures with exceptional eyesight, even color vision, used in courtship. They don't build webs, instead using silk for shelters and draglines to stabilize jumps for hunting and escape. Their venom poses minimal threat to humans, and some species exhibit mimicry, such as imitating ants to avoid predators. Male jumping spiders have elaborate courtship rituals, with different species displaying diverse colors and behaviors. Though small, jumping spiders play an important ecological role, and their abundance makes them a fascinating subject for observation.