Want to know Regal Jumping Spider Lifespan? Its 2-3 years in captivity, and they can live 1-2 years in the wild.

The regal jumping spider is a large, hairy spider native to the southeastern United States. With bodies up to 22mm long, they are distinguished by their metallic green or orange mouth parts. Unlike other spiders, regal jumpers do not spin webs to catch prey.

These athletic spiders have incredible eyesight and can leap up to 50 times their body length in a single bound. This allows them to actively hunt prey like flies, moths, and crickets by stalking and ambushing them. If threatened, regal jumpers can also use their jumping abilities to quickly escape predators.

Male regal jumpers have elaborate pedipalps and leg tufts used in elaborate courtship rituals. If successful, the female will produce an egg sac with up to 50 eggs inside. The diligent mother guards the egg sac until hundreds of tiny spiderlings emerge.

(Phidippus regius) Regal jumping spiders average life expectancy is 2-3 years in captivity, Regal Jumping Spider can live 1-2 years in the wild, Their colorful bodies and active hunting behaviors make them popular pets among arachnid enthusiasts. With proper care, these clever jumpers can thrive in their home terrariums.

Regal Jumping Spider Lifespan in Captivity

Regal jumping spiders can live 2-3 years in captivity as pet. This is longer than their average 1-2 year lifespan in the wild.

Males Regal Jumping Spider lifespan is shorter than females, living for approximately 1 year after reaching adulthood. Females may live closer to 2 years.

The current record for the longest-living regal jumping spider belongs to a female named Ms. Regal. She resided at the Bronx Zoo in New York City and lived for an impressive four years and nine months.

Captive regal jumpers benefit from consistent feeding, proper humidity and temperature, and ample space to exercise their natural behaviors.

Appropriate enclosure size is important – adults need enclosures of at least 5-10 gallons. Good ventilation and regular cleaning are also essential.

A varied diet of live insects like crickets, flies, moths, Mosquitoes, and roaches is recommended. Calcium and vitamin supplementation helps support exoskeleton growth and development.

Providing opportunities for environmental enrichment like branches, foliage, hides, and toys can mentally stimulate regal jumpers in captivity.

Stress should be minimized – regal jumpers are sensitive and can be stressed by overhandling, loud noises, unnatural light cycles, or other environmental changes.

With male regal jumpers, ample time should be given for them to mature and intensify their vibrant coloration before attempting breeding.

Monitoring for signs of old age like slowed movement and reduced appetite can help provide appropriate care for aging spiders.

How Long Do Regal Jumping Spiders Live in Wild

Regal jumping spiders generally live for 1-2 years in wild in their natural habitat.

Males typically have shorter lifespans than females. Males usually live for about 1 year after reaching adulthood.

Females jumping spiders often survive a bit longer, averaging around 1.5-2 years lifespans in the wild.

After hatching from their egg sacs, regal jumping spiders go through several molts as juveniles before reaching adulthood.

Males reach maturity and stop molting around 5-6 months of age. Females reach their final molt and maturity around 7-9 months.

The lifespan from birth to adulthood for regal jumpers is about 9-12 months on average.

Once mature, males begin searching for mates while females start producing egg sacs after successfully mating.

Females produce multiple egg sacs, each containing 30-50 eggs, during their adult lifespan.

Threats from predators, difficulty finding food, injuries, and environmental conditions likely contribute to the short wild lifespans of regal jumpers.

As they near the end of life, regal jumping spiders gradually slow down in movement and appetite before dying of old age.

Factors Affect the Lifespan of Regal Jumping Spiders

There are several key factors that can affect the lifespan of regal jumping spiders in the wild and in captivity.

These include food availability and diet, temperature and humidity, injuries and predation, molting complications, access to mates, stress, and overall husbandry.

Ensuring ample nutritious food, proper environmental conditions, safety from threats, and healthy molting are essential for supporting regal jumpers to reach their maximum lifespan of 2-3 years in captivity. Genetic diversity and breeding viability may also play a role.

Care For a Regal Jumping Spider

To care for a regal jumping spider and ensure a longer lifespan, provide an appropriately sized enclosure (5+ gallons) with ample ventilation, substrate for burrowing, and enrichment objects.

Maintain temperature around 70-80°F and humidity between 60-75%.

Feed a varied diet of gut-loaded insects like crickets, flies and roaches 3 times per week and provide a shallow water dish. Minimize stress and overhandling while monitoring for signs of illness, injury or approaching molts.

Supplement feeder insects with calcium and vitamins. Maintain proper hygiene and cleanliness of the enclosure. Allow mature males opportunities to mate prior to declining health. Optimizing these elements of husbandry can extend the regal jumper’s lifespan.

Average Lifespan of Other Species of Jumping Spiders

The average lifespan of other common jumping spider species is quite similar to the regal jumper’s 1-2 year lifespan in the wild. Bold jumping spiders live approximately 1-1.5 years while Phidippus audax can live 1-2 years. Grass spiders such as Agelenopsis spp. may only live for one year. The bronze jumper’s lifespan is up to 2 years for females. Overall most species of jumping spiders appear to live for 1-2 years on average, with slightly extended 3 year lifespans possible in captivity. Proper care and diet are key to achieving maximum longevity.

Are Regal Jumping Spiders Poisonous

No, regal jumping spiders are not poisonous or significantly venomous to humans.

Regal jumping spiders do have venom that they use to subdue and pre-digest insect prey. However, their venom is not considered medically significant to humans.

Their fangs and mouthparts are very small, adapted for small prey rather than large animals or humans. The mechanical injury from a bite would produce nothing more than temporary, localized pain.

No serious symptoms or lasting effects have been reported from regal jumper bites. Swelling, redness or itchiness around the bite site may occur but should resolve quickly.

They are not an aggressive species and will only bite in self-defense if grabbed, pinned, or handled excessively. Most bites happen when people attempt to hold or capture them.

Even if they do bite in handling, regal jumpers do not have large fangs capable of penetrating deeply into human skin. The venom dosage they can deliver is minuscule.

Young children, those with allergies, or people with exceptionally sensitive reactions to insect bites/stings may want to exercise greater caution around regal spiders. But serious reactions are highly unlikely.

Unlike some other spider species, regal jumpers do not present a medically concerning bite risk. Their venom has not been shown to have toxic effects in humans.

Regal Jumping Spiders Diet

Regal jumping spiders are carnivores that eat a variety of small invertebrates including insects, other arthropods, and sometimes even other spiders.

Here is a list of suitable foods that regal jumping spiders can eat:

• Crickets
• Mealworms
• Roaches
• Moths
• Flies
• Fruit flies
• Small caterpillars
• Aphids
• Silverfish
• Earwigs
• Grasshoppers
• Locusts
• Silkworms
• Termites
• Ants
• Mosquitos
• Bloodworms
• Waxworms
• Other small spiders
• Small beetles
• Mites
• Booklice
• Springtails
• Millipedes
• Woodlice
• Gnats
• Fleas
• Small slugs
• Small snails

FAQs

What Jumping Spider Lives the Longest?

The giant canyon jumping spider (P. hera) has the longest lifespan of any jumping spider species, living up to 7 years. Most other jumping spiders live 1-2 years on average. In captivity with optimal care, regal jumping spiders can reach 2-3 years old.

How Big Do Regal Jumping Spiders Get?

Regal jumping spiders are one of the larger jumping spider species. Adults can reach up to 22mm (about 1 inch) in body length as adults. Their legspan from first leg to fourth leg may reach 50-60mm (2-2.5 inches). Females tend to be slightly larger than males.

Can You Hold a Regal Jumping Spider?

Regal jumping spiders can be held but they do not typically enjoy excessive handling. It’s best to avoid grabbing them and allow them to voluntarily walk onto your hand if they choose. Always support their entire body rather than grasping one leg. Hold them over a soft surface in case they jump. Overhandling or restraining them can cause them stress.

Are Regal Jumping Spiders Aggressive?

Regal jumping spiders are not aggressive toward humans. They have good vision and will likely flee from human interaction. Like all spiders, they may bite if extremely provoked, but these spiders do not actively attack or seek out threats. Their venom is also harmless to people.

Are Regal Jumping Spiders Dangerous?

No, regal jumping spiders are not considered dangerous to humans. They do not attack humans and their venom is not toxic to people, producing just mild, localized pain if bitten. Regal jumpers play an important role controlling insect populations. With respect, they make very low-risk pets.

How Far Can a Regal Jumping Spider Jump?

Regal jumping spiders are capable of jumping up to 50 times their own body length. This means an adult regal jumper can leap up to 50mm or nearly 2 inches in a single bound without much effort. Their powerful legs allow them to jump both high and far relative to their small body size.