Menemerus

The Menemerus jumping spider group has 67 different kinds as of June 2019. These spiders love warm places and can be found all over the world. Get ready to discover interesting facts about them right here!

Scientific Classification

Menemerus

Spiders Belonging to this Genus

  • M. affinis
  • M. albocinctus
  • M. animatus
  • M. arabicus
  • M. bicolor
  • M. bifurcus
  • M. bivittatus
  • M. brachygnathus
  • M. brevibulbis
  • M. carlini
  • M. congoensis
  • M. cummingorum
  • M. davidi
  • M. depressus
  • M. desertus
  • M. dimidius
  • M. eburnensis
  • M. errabundus
  • M. fagei
  • M. falsificus
  • M. fasciculatus
  • M. felix
  • M. formosus
  • M. fulvus
  • M. guttatus
  • M. illigeri
  • M. kochi
  • M. legalli
  • M. legendrei
  • M. lesnei
  • M. lesserti
  • M. magnificus
  • M. marginalis
  • M. marginatus
  • M. meridionalis
  • M. minshullae
  • M. mirabilis
  • M. modestus
  • M. namibicus
  • M. natalis
  • M. nigeriensis
  • M. nigli
  • M. ochraceus
  • M. pallescens
  • M. paradoxus
  • M. patellaris
  • M. pentamaculatus
  • M. pilosus
  • M. placidus
  • M. plenus
  • M. proximus
  • M. pulcher
  • M. rabaudi
  • M. regius
  • M. rubicundus
  • M. sabulosus
  • M. schutzae
  • M. semilimbatus
  • M. silver
  • M. soldani
  • M. taeniatus
  • M. transvaalicus
  • M. tropicus
  • M. utilis
  • M. vernei
  • M. wuchangensis
  • M. zimbabwensis

Menemerus Bivittatus

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

  • Size: The spiders are 0.16-0.39 inches (0.40-0.99 cm).

Menemerus Size

  • Color: Most of the species have a brown and gray body.
  • Other Characteristic Features: Besides their hairy appearance, another significant feature is their varying abdominal shape. It could be round, oval, or even elongated. Most of the species of this genus also have a flat body.

Eggs

All the species of this genus lay 25-40 eggs in a silken sac.

Spiderlings

After around three weeks, spiderlings come out of their secure enclosure (the sac) and disperse to be on their own.

The Web

These hunting spiders do not spin webs and capture their prey by directly jumping on them. They, however, make burrows with silk to rest.

Are Menemerus Spiders Venomous?

Yes, Menemerus spiders are venomous, but their venom is not harmful to humans.

Can Menemerus Spiders Bite?

Yes, Menemerus spiders can bite, but they usually don’t unless they feel threatened. Their bite is generally not harmful to people.

Menemerus Bite

Ecological Importance and Behavior of Menemerus Spider

These spiders are significant predators of insect pests, contributing to the biological control within their ecosystems. Their hunting strategy not only aids in maintaining the balance of insect populations but also influences the micro-ecosystems of the trees, bushes, and leaf litter they inhabit.

Natural Predators: Menemerus jumping spiders have a range of natural predators, including birds, larger spiders, and other insectivores. These predatory relationships help keep the Menemerus population in check and sustain the biodiversity of their habitats.

Prey-Predator Dynamics: The prey-predator dynamic is crucial to the ecological impact of Menemerus spiders. By preying on insects, they help control potential pest outbreaks, which can be beneficial to both natural ecosystems and human agricultural interests.

Relationship with Humans: While venomous, Menemerus jumping spiders pose little to no threat to humans. They are not aggressive and typically only bite if provoked, with the bite being relatively harmless. Their presence is often unnoticed by humans due to their discreet hunting habits and non-confrontational nature.

Menemerus Semilimbatus

Quick Facts

DistributionSenegal, Cuba, Algeria, China, Namibia, Tunisia, China, and many other African countries
HabitatTrees, bushes, and leaf litter
DietInsects
Lifespan1-2 years

Did You Know

  • The famous French naturalist Eugène Louis Simon described the genus in 1868.

Menemerus Image

In summary, the Menemerus jumping spider plays a vital ecological role as a natural pest controller, its hunting behaviors and life cycle intricately woven into the fabric of the ecosystems it inhabits.

The Menemerus jumping spider group has 67 different kinds as of June 2019. These spiders love warm places and can be found all over the world. Get ready to discover interesting facts about them right here!

Menemerus

Spiders Belonging to this Genus

  • M. affinis
  • M. albocinctus
  • M. animatus
  • M. arabicus
  • M. bicolor
  • M. bifurcus
  • M. bivittatus
  • M. brachygnathus
  • M. brevibulbis
  • M. carlini
  • M. congoensis
  • M. cummingorum
  • M. davidi
  • M. depressus
  • M. desertus
  • M. dimidius
  • M. eburnensis
  • M. errabundus
  • M. fagei
  • M. falsificus
  • M. fasciculatus
  • M. felix
  • M. formosus
  • M. fulvus
  • M. guttatus
  • M. illigeri
  • M. kochi
  • M. legalli
  • M. legendrei
  • M. lesnei
  • M. lesserti
  • M. magnificus
  • M. marginalis
  • M. marginatus
  • M. meridionalis
  • M. minshullae
  • M. mirabilis
  • M. modestus
  • M. namibicus
  • M. natalis
  • M. nigeriensis
  • M. nigli
  • M. ochraceus
  • M. pallescens
  • M. paradoxus
  • M. patellaris
  • M. pentamaculatus
  • M. pilosus
  • M. placidus
  • M. plenus
  • M. proximus
  • M. pulcher
  • M. rabaudi
  • M. regius
  • M. rubicundus
  • M. sabulosus
  • M. schutzae
  • M. semilimbatus
  • M. silver
  • M. soldani
  • M. taeniatus
  • M. transvaalicus
  • M. tropicus
  • M. utilis
  • M. vernei
  • M. wuchangensis
  • M. zimbabwensis

Menemerus Bivittatus

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

  • Size: The spiders are 0.16-0.39 inches (0.40-0.99 cm).

Menemerus Size

  • Color: Most of the species have a brown and gray body.
  • Other Characteristic Features: Besides their hairy appearance, another significant feature is their varying abdominal shape. It could be round, oval, or even elongated. Most of the species of this genus also have a flat body.

Eggs

All the species of this genus lay 25-40 eggs in a silken sac.

Spiderlings

After around three weeks, spiderlings come out of their secure enclosure (the sac) and disperse to be on their own.

The Web

These hunting spiders do not spin webs and capture their prey by directly jumping on them. They, however, make burrows with silk to rest.

Are Menemerus Spiders Venomous?

Yes, Menemerus spiders are venomous, but their venom is not harmful to humans.

Can Menemerus Spiders Bite?

Yes, Menemerus spiders can bite, but they usually don’t unless they feel threatened. Their bite is generally not harmful to people.

Menemerus Bite

Ecological Importance and Behavior of Menemerus Spider

These spiders are significant predators of insect pests, contributing to the biological control within their ecosystems. Their hunting strategy not only aids in maintaining the balance of insect populations but also influences the micro-ecosystems of the trees, bushes, and leaf litter they inhabit.

Natural Predators: Menemerus jumping spiders have a range of natural predators, including birds, larger spiders, and other insectivores. These predatory relationships help keep the Menemerus population in check and sustain the biodiversity of their habitats.

Prey-Predator Dynamics: The prey-predator dynamic is crucial to the ecological impact of Menemerus spiders. By preying on insects, they help control potential pest outbreaks, which can be beneficial to both natural ecosystems and human agricultural interests.

Relationship with Humans: While venomous, Menemerus jumping spiders pose little to no threat to humans. They are not aggressive and typically only bite if provoked, with the bite being relatively harmless. Their presence is often unnoticed by humans due to their discreet hunting habits and non-confrontational nature.

Menemerus Semilimbatus

Quick Facts

DistributionSenegal, Cuba, Algeria, China, Namibia, Tunisia, China, and many other African countries
HabitatTrees, bushes, and leaf litter
DietInsects
Lifespan1-2 years

Did You Know

  • The famous French naturalist Eugène Louis Simon described the genus in 1868.

Menemerus Image

In summary, the Menemerus jumping spider plays a vital ecological role as a natural pest controller, its hunting behaviors and life cycle intricately woven into the fabric of the ecosystems it inhabits.