# Gray Wall Jumping Spider (*menemerus bivittatus*) The Gray Wall Jumping Spider is a small and friendly spider that loves to jump around! Kids will be amazed by how this little creature can leap many times its body length! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 17 - **Habitat:** Gray Wall Jumping Spiders can be found in gardens, on walls, and in various outdoor spaces. - **Also known as:** Gray Spider, Wall Spider ![Gray Wall Jumping Spider](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Menemerus.bivittatus.male.-.tanikawa.jpg&width=800) Photo: Akio Tanikawa, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Menemerus.bivittatus.male.-.tanikawa.jpg) ## Appearance The Gray Wall Jumping Spider is a small, flattened spider, typically grey with a white stripe on each side of its dark abdomen and a white band below its large, forward-facing eyes. Its short, thick legs are also patterned, blending seamlessly with urban walls. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Arachnida - **Order:** Araneae - **Family:** Salticidae - **Genus:** Menemerus ## Interesting facts - A jumping spider's blood pressure can rapidly increase to power their amazing leaps! - Did you know some jumping spiders perform a special dance to attract a mate? - These tiny hunters don't build webs to catch food; they pounce like a miniature lion! - They often tilt their heads to observe you, showing surprising curiosity! ## Special abilities - **Wall Walker:** Gray Wall Jumping Spider has specialized leg hairs that help them cling to smooth vertical surfaces, even glass. - **Safety Silk:** Gray Wall Jumping Spider can deploy a dragline of silk as it jumps, helping them catch themselves if they miss. - **Super Sight:** Gray Wall Jumping Spider has huge primary eyes that help them spot tiny prey from far away with incredible precision. ## Measurements & details - **Size:** 4-9 mm - **Lifespan:** 365-730 days - **Leg Count:** 8 ## Diet & Feeding These tiny hunters pounce on and eat smaller insects they find on walls and plants. - **Primary Foods:** Flies, Mosquitoes, Small Moths, Ants - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** House Fly (*Musca domestica*) — A primary food source in urban environments. - **Hunts:** Common House Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — Hunts these flying pests, helping control their numbers. - **Eaten by:** [House Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-sparrow) (*Passer domesticus*) — Frequently preyed upon by small insectivorous birds. - **Eaten by:** Green Anole (*Anolis carolinensis*) — Often eaten by small lizards in their shared habitats. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always observe spiders from a distance and never try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Gray Wall Jumping Spider? Compare body proportions, leg shape, abdomen markings and the web, if there is one. Eye arrangement can be decisive but rarely shows up in a casual phone photo. A web is a supporting clue, not proof of who built it. Spider Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How big is Gray Wall Jumping Spider? 4-9 mm ### How long does Gray Wall Jumping Spider live? 365-730 days ### What does Gray Wall Jumping Spider eat? These tiny hunters pounce on and eat smaller insects they find on walls and plants. ### Where is Gray Wall Jumping Spider usually found? Gray Wall Jumping Spiders can be found in gardens, on walls, and in various outdoor spaces. ### How does Gray Wall Jumping Spider hunt? Ambush ### How many legs does Gray Wall Jumping Spider have? 8 ## Where to spot - [Houston Arboretum and Nature Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/houston-arboretum-and-nature-center) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden - [Texas State Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/texas-state-aquarium) — Texas, US · Zoo - [Africatown](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/africatown) — Alabama, US · Neighborhood - [Butterfly World](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/butterfly-world) — Florida, US · Zoo - [Deerfield Beach Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/deerfield-beach-arboretum) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Icehouse Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/icehouse-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District [View all places to see Gray Wall Jumping Spider](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/gray-wall-jumping-spider) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Gray Wall Jumping Spider: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gray-wall-jumping-spider)