Regal Jumping Spider

Well I have a story to tell and it is about a female Phidippus regius who was my cell mate while in prison.

While I was in prison I had caught a small jumping spider, beautiful orange patterns covered her body and (although there were more eyes) the two shiny black eyes facing forward caught my attention.

Most of the guys that were there caught these spiders for fighting (it was a big deal to have the toughest spider in town) I never did get into that. I kept my spider out of that sporting arachnid arena.

At first I kept my spider in a cup with a lid, but as with myself I figured it didn't like to be locked up either, so I let it loose in my cell. It had found a corner on the ceiling an made a home and stayed in my cell. I took care of it for ... read morea long time, I would catch flies and set them on the ceiling and she would catch them, I would sprinkle water on the ceiling and she would drink it. And so this went on for a long time.

When I would bring her food (flies) I would feed her by hand, she knew the difference between my fingers and the flies, and she always seemed to know when I was bringing her food or water.

I discovered it was a female when she laid here egg sack. I guess they can have them quite some time after sex, at least several months (unless she was sneaking out or someone was sneaking in!).

Well when the babies hatched, (and they were tiny) they mostly hung out around the webbed area, and the mama spider would like squirt liquid on some of the web! Odd, I had never know or heard of spiders taking care of their young and this was akin to nursing! Well after awhile the young I guess they out grew their youth and took off.

Then one day I was at my desk (actually a metal table extended from the wall) I was studying something, Math, a language or something I don't quite remember, well the spider came down from her corner on the ceiling and got on the table , than jumped onto the end of my pencil and looked straight at me for a good minute! Than she just jumped of and went back up the wall.
I find it difficult to admit, but there was an intelligence behind that look she gave me, some form of communication or something.

Well she left my cell shortly after that, maybe she was saying goodbye.

I love my little guy, my daughter named him Jack Skellington..he just matured to full size last week and I have been handling him a lot since to get him used to me...this is by far my favorite spider and one of the things I love most about them is they are gentle enough that, with my help, my 4 year old can interact with him and hold him..I hope to gather more soon and I would love to breed them once just let the babies free in the backyard lol

When I first saw this spider it "freaked me out" as it was chunky & quick! Those colors on it's back looks like it was looking directly at me! I am not a fan of spiders but knowing this is a beneficial one I won't be afraid of it biting me.

I have one that "owns" the west wall of my living room! If I hang a new pic, move one, or want to dust/clean the wall "he" has to be right there watching every move. I've told him (yes I talk to him haha) he can watch from a distance--I have a "thing" about spiders (ewww).So, we've come to a compromise, when I do something at/on the wall he seems to know to move up to the far corner and stay out of the way. I have noticed that this is the ONLY wall/corner that never has cob webs, including the window on that wall. I don't know if he eats the "cellar" spiders that abound here in northeast TN, or if they just know to stay away from him. He's black & white, fuzzy and well, cute I guess--for a spider hahaha.

My absolute favourite spiders in the whole world. They remind me of puppies and definitely have a nice and interesting personality!
Ours follows us around.

"YES" here in pittsburgh,PA we have them as well and i have noticed that they do seem to have a personality of sorts (i thought at first it was my imagination)but they are cute for spiders and i don't mind having them around.

Wonderful little creature! I've come to the conclusion that jumping spiders DO have miniature personalities....I know that my large female watches me on the porch as the sun rises in the morning....just alot of fun to watch... :)

Although jumping spiders do not make webs to capture prey, they do use silk, hunting spiders trail a dragline behind them to break their fall in case they miss a jump.
Jumping spiders are harmless, beneficial creatures.