Heliophanus flavipes (Hahn, 1832)
Family: Salticidae, Jumping Spiders.
Adults Season: May to September. (In the North, season is shorter)
A small species, Length around 5mm.
H. Flavipes is a fairly common and widespread jumping spider across England and Wales, not so common in Scotland. Can also be found across most of Western Europe down towards the Southern countries, the further north and east you go it becomes scarcer.
Habitat…. Found in a variety of habitats, will leave the protection of the lower vegetation cover to take advantage of the sun’s warmth on the higher parts of the plant, which also attracts more prey. Tending to hunt small insects, including mosquitos up to twice their size. They have also been observed taking on prey sometimes up to 3 times the length of themselves, such as some of the smaller species of moth. Like all Jumping Spiders it will use the elements of surprise, by jumping onto its prey, which has proven to be a very effective method of catching flying and non-flying insects.
Like other jumping spiders they do not build a web, they use their large front eyes to locate and stalk their prey. By move slowly towards their prey until they are close enough to pounce on top of their victim, their hunting behaviour has been described as cat-like. Using their acute eyesight, they are able to accurately judge the distances they need to jump. Prior to jumping, they glue a silk thread to the surface that they are jumping from so that if they miss the target, they are able to climb up the thread and try again. H. flavipes disregard unappetising insects, such as ants.
Like most Jumping spiders courtship before mating, the male carries out a courtship dance involving waving his front legs and moving his abdomen up and down. If his dance is to the female’s approval, he will have a good chance to mate with her. The female will stay with her egg sacs, continuing to guard the young after they hatch. After the spiderlings have had their second moult, they will leave the mother and fend for themselves.