Hyllus diardi

Hyllus diardi is a jumping spider (family Salticidae, order Araneae) found across Southeast Asia, including parts of Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Like all spiders, they're arachnids, not insects. H. diardi is one of the largest salticids in the world, with adult females reaching up to 15–18 mm body length and a noticeably heavy, robust build that sets them apart from the more compact Phidippus species. Males are a bit smaller and leaner.

Both sexes can display metallic green or blue-green chelicerae, which are particularly striking under good light. Females tend towards brown or grey-brown with lighter markings on the abdomen and cephalothorax. Males are often darker with more contrast in their patterning. Like all salticids, they have four pairs of eyes, with the large anterior median pair providing sharp colour vision through their tube-shaped retinae. H. diardi uses this vision to stalk and ambush prey with impressive precision, and watching one lock onto a target and launch is genuinely something to see.

Temperament is different from Phidippus. H. diardi is faster, more reactive, and generally more skittish. They can be handled, but they're much more likely to bolt than sit calmly on your hand, so this isn't the species to pick if you want a relaxed handling experience. They are better suited to keepers who enjoy watching active hunting behaviour. Females live roughly 1.5–2.5 years, while males typically live around 8–14 months, maturing faster and dying sooner after their final moult, as is common across jumping spiders.

• Difficulty: Intermediate to advanced. Not a first spider.
• Enclosure: Larger than typical jumper setups. Minimum 25×25×35 cm for adults. They are active and need the space. Height still matters most.
• Ventilation: Cross-ventilation is critical. Mesh on two opposite sides to keep air moving. Poor airflow leads to mould and stagnant conditions that stress the spider.
• Temperature: 24–28°C. They come from tropical Southeast Asia and do not tolerate cool temperatures well. A heat mat on the side of the enclosure is usually necessary in UK homes, especially over winter. Never place heat mats underneath.
• Humidity: 60–70%. Mist one side of the enclosure every 1–2 days. They need slightly more consistent humidity than Phidippus species. Allow the opposite side to dry between mistings.
• Substrate: Thin layer of coco fibre or paper towel. As with other jumpers, they are arboreal and won't spend much time on the ground.
• Furnishings: Cork bark, fake plants with broad leaves, small branches. Give them plenty of vertical climbing routes and elevated anchor points for web sac construction. H. diardi builds its silk retreat high up, often tucked behind cork or foliage.
• Diet: Live prey only. Slings: Drosophila melanogaster and D. hydei fruit flies. Juveniles: small crickets, green/blue bottle flies. Adults: medium crickets, curly wing flies, blue bottles, small dubia roaches. They're enthusiastic feeders and will take larger prey relative to body size than most jumpers.
• Feeding schedule: Every 2–3 days for juveniles, every 3–4 days for adults. Prey should be no larger than the spider's abdomen.
• Water: Misting only. No water dish. They drink droplets from enclosure walls. Mist the walls and furnishings, not the spider.

Remove uneaten prey within 24 hours. Pre-moult fasting is normal across all jumping spiders. H. diardi may fast for a week or more before a moult, become less active, and retreat into its web sac. Don't disturb it. Moulting is the most vulnerable period in any spider's life, and a failed moult from disturbance or low humidity is usually fatal.

Because H. diardi is fast and reactive, feeding and enclosure maintenance take a bit more care than with calmer species. Open the enclosure slowly and keep movements steady. If the spider bolts during maintenance, stay calm and let it settle before continuing. A front-opening enclosure makes this much easier than a top-opening one.

For general jumping spider husbandry, see our jumping spider care overview.

Your spider will be packed individually in a secure, ventilated vial or container with a piece of damp tissue to maintain humidity during transit. H. diardi is quick and strong for a jumper, so we use escape-proof containers with no gaps. The vial is placed inside an insulated box with a heat pack during cooler months (below about 8°C). Because this is a tropical species with low cold tolerance, we may delay dispatch if temperatures are forecast to drop significantly. In summer, we use cool packs where needed and avoid posting on days above 30°C.

We ship via tracked next-day delivery, Monday to Wednesday only, to avoid spiders sitting in depots over the weekend. You'll get tracking details by email once your order is dispatched.

When your package arrives, open it in a calm, enclosed room with doors and windows shut. H. diardi is fast and will jump if startled, so take it slowly. If the spider is sitting inside a small web sac in the vial, that's normal. They often spin a retreat during transit. Give it 10–15 minutes in a quiet spot, then gently open the vial inside the prepared enclosure and let the spider walk out on its own. Don't tip or shake the container.

Leave the spider undisturbed for 24–48 hours after arrival before offering food. Mist the enclosure walls lightly so it has access to water droplets straight away. It may take a few days before normal feeding and exploring behaviour kicks in.

All live animals are covered by our live arrival guarantee. If anything goes wrong during transit, contact us with photos within 2 hours of delivery and we'll get it sorted.