- Wildlife
- Invertebrates
- Spiders
- Zebra Spider
Bruce Shortland_cpt_Bruce_Shortland.jpg "Zebra Spider - Bruce Shortland - Bruce Shortland")
About
The Zebra Spider is a common jumping spider that stalks its prey on walls, rocks and tree trunks in the sun, before leaping on it - they can jump up to 10cm, nearly twice their own body length. Zebra Spiders frequent gardens and sometimes come into houses. Males attract females through a complex courtship dance, moving around the females with their legs waving in the air. The females create a silk cocoon in which the eggs are protected, and guards the nest until the young hatch.
How to identify
The Zebra Spider is a small but big-bodied spider. It is so-named for its black and white stripy pattern. There are several very similar species of jumping spider in Britain, although as a group they are one of the most distinctive.
Where to find it
Widespread.
Habitats
When to find it
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
How can people help
Spiders are beneficial in the garden as they help to keep populations of pests in check. You can encourage spiders into your garden by providing logs, stone piles and less tidy areas for them to live, feed and breed in. In turn, other species will be attracted to the garden as spiders are a food source for many animals, including mammals and birds, providing a vital link in the food chain. To find out more about encouraging wildlife into your garden, visit our Wild About Gardens website: a joint initiative with the RHS, there's plenty of facts and tips to get you started.