Hasarius adansoni

About this species

Hasarius adansoni is a small cosmopolitan jumping spider commonly found in and around buildings worldwide. Males have a distinctive black body with a white crescent marking and orange-red palps. Despite their tiny size (4–6 mm body length), they display all the curiosity and hunting behaviour you'd expect from a jumper. They are readily available and make great micro-pets.

Important: H. adansoni must be housed individually. Like all jumping spiders, they are solitary and will cannibalise conspecifics.

Enclosure

H. adansoni is a small species and does not need a large enclosure. Even a well-ventilated deli cup works well. As with all jumping spiders, height is more important than floor space. Provide fine mesh ventilation for airflow. Mist lightly every 2–3 days. They drink from droplets on the enclosure walls.

Feeding

Due to their small size, prey must be appropriately scaled, no larger than the spider's abdomen. Suitable prey includes:

• Drosophila melanogaster (flightless fruit flies) for all life stages
• Drosophila hydei for large adults only

Feed every 2–3 days. Always remove uneaten prey after a few hours.

Lifespan

Hasarius adansoni is a short-lived species, typically surviving 6–12 months. They mature quickly and breed readily in captivity. Males are shorter-lived than females. Their brief lifespan is offset by their ease of breeding. Keepers often maintain successive generations.