Tan jumping spiders eat small flying and crawling insects, mainly flies, small moths, gnats, and other spiders. They hunt by sight, stalking prey and leaping on it, rather than catching it in a web. They are common across North America on fences, walls, tree bark, and porches.
Meet the Tan Jumping Spider
The tan jumping spider (Platycryptus undatus) is a flat, gray-brown spider with a mottled pattern that blends into bark and weathered wood. Like all jumping spiders, it has excellent eyesight, with a large pair of forward-facing eyes. It does not spin a web to trap food. It uses silk as a safety line while jumping, and to build small retreats for resting, molting, and laying eggs.
What They Eat in the Wild
- Flies and gnats: the most common prey around buildings.
- Small moths and beetles: caught on walls near lights.
- Ants and other small insects: eaten when they cross a hunting spot.
- Other spiders: including spiders close to their own size.
The spider freezes, turns toward movement, creeps close, and then pounces. Prey is held in the fangs while venom stops it moving, and the spider then feeds on the liquefied insides.
Eating Habits in Captivity
If you keep a tan jumping spider as a pet, treat it like other jumping spiders:
- Offer live, soft-bodied prey no bigger than the spider’s body: flightless fruit flies, small crickets, houseflies, and roach nymphs.
- Feed young spiders every day or two and adults two to four times a week.
- Remove uneaten prey, especially crickets, which can bother a molting spider.
- Skip feeding when the spider is sealed in a silk hammock getting ready to molt.
- Mist the side of the enclosure lightly so it can drink the droplets.
How Long Do They Live?
Most jumping spiders live about one to two years, with females generally outliving males.
Are They Dangerous?
No. Tan jumping spiders are not aggressive and bite only if squeezed or trapped. A bite is usually no worse than a minor sting. If someone has a strong reaction, they should see a doctor.
Learn more in our guides on feeding jumping spiders, how a spider eats a fly, and vitamins for spiders.
Bottom Line
Tan jumping spiders are visual hunters that eat flies, small moths, gnats, ants, and other spiders. In captivity, feed them live prey no larger than their body and remove leftovers.
