Jumping spiders are cute little spiders that many people enjoy being around and interacting with because of their likable demeanor and their cuteness.
But does the cuteness of jumping spiders come with dangers? Are they cute but deadly to humans or pets?
Spoiler alert! Not only are jumping spiders the cutest spiders on the planet, but they also make great pets and are beloved by humans because they pose no significant risks to humans.
Let’s find out why!
Are Jumping Spiders Poisonous?
Jumping spiders are not poisonous. Jumping spiders do not have any significant risks associated with humans consuming and dining on them.
You should be able to eat all the jumping spiders you want and suffer no ill effects from doing so.
Spiders are a delicacy in some countries and a food source for people in others, but jumping spiders aren’t typically on the menu.
Are Jumping Spiders Venomous?
Jumping spiders are venomous spiders but their venom is in small amounts and isn’t toxic enough to cause any major harm or illness to humans.
Jumping spiders aren’t known to be aggressive and don’t bite humans at random. Bites from jumping spiders typically occur when the spiders feel threatened or are being harmed.
Bites happen mainly when people try to pick up or accidentally squish jumping spiders.
But jumping spiders are not known to be aggressive toward humans unless defending themselves.
Are Jumping Spiders Dangerous to Humans?
Jumping spiders pose no significant risks to humans. Even though they can bite and inject venom into humans, their venom is relatively harmless due to how small the amount of venom is and how much larger humans are to be affected by the venom’s potency.
Jumping spider bites may cause a little pain along with some slight swelling and redness, but there are no major medical-related issues associated with a jumping spider bite on a human.
Are Jumping Spiders Poisonous to Pets?
Jumping spiders are not poisonous or dangerous to most pets. Typical domestic pets are generally too big to be affected by the amount of venom and potency of the venom that jumping spiders possess and can inject through a bite.
But does that mean all pets? Well, that just depends on the type of pets that are being referred to and how big they are.
If you have pet insects, you may not want to allow jumping spiders to interact with them because jumping spiders eat insects.
Jumping spiders can be dangerous to many pet insects because their venom is potent enough to kill small insects.
But what about bigger pets like birds, cats, dogs, and reptiles? Let’s see!
Are Jumping Spiders Poisonous to Birds?
Some birds will eat venomous jumping spiders in the wild and suffer no ill effects.
Many different birds in the wild eat a variety of different spiders as a part of their diet and don’t get sick from consuming the most venomous spiders.
This should be no different for pet birds. They should be safe when eating jumping spiders but shouldn’t have spiders as the main part of their diet.
Jumping spider bites may pose some threats to small pet birds and could cause them to get sick or die, but this isn’t something that normally happens or has been reported as a normal occurrence.
Are Jumping Spiders Poisonous to Cats?
Jumping spiders are not poisonous to cats. Some cats like to eat spiders for whatever reason, including venomous spiders.
There is no significant risk with letting your pet cat eat jumping spiders, but it is not recommended.
Other more venomous spiders don’t even pose any higher risk for cats when they eat them. But there is still a risk when cats eat dangerous spiders.
The reason you shouldn’t let your pet cat eat a poisonous spider is that your cat may get bitten while attempting to eat the spider and this could be dangerous for your pet, depending on the species of the spider.
Are Jumping Spiders Poisonous to Dogs?
As with cats, jumping spiders are not poisonous to dogs. If a dog eats a jumping spider, there shouldn’t be anything to worry about.
While most dogs don’t eat spiders, some dogs are curious and will put anything in their mouth to see what it tastes like.
The risk that is posed with dogs and spiders isn’t when dogs eat spiders.
Just like with cats, the risk spiders pose to dogs is the potential to bite a dog while the dog is trying to eat the spider.
Venomous spiders like black widows and brown recluses can be venomous to pets and humans alike, but jumping spiders aren’t dangerous or venomous to most pets and humans.
Are Jumping Spiders Poisonous to Reptiles?
If you have small pet reptiles like geckos, dragons, and others, you may be wondering if your pet reptile can eat jumping spiders and not get sick.
Reptiles should be safe when eating jumping spiders but it shouldn’t be the main part of their diet.
However, there are some species of jumping spiders – such as regal jumping spiders – that actually prey on small lizards and frogs.
These jumping spiders can be dangerous to small pet reptiles that are normally a part of their diet in the wild.
Are There Any Dangerous Jumping Spider Species?
There are no jumping spider species that are dangerous to humans. There are no reported deaths of humans by jumping spiders anywhere in the world.
Some jumping spider species can be dangerous to small pets lizards and insects but pose no significant risks to most pets that people commonly keep.
Recap
So, are jumping spiders poisonous? No, there are no known jumping spiders in the world that are poisonous.
Jumping spiders are safe for humans and pets to eat – if that is your thing.
Jumping spiders are venomous and can bite humans but their venom is in small amounts and not very toxic to humans. The majority of jumping spider bites require little to no medical intervention.
Most people experience a little redness, slight swelling, and some itching from a jumping spider bite, but nothing more significant than that.
Jumping spiders are popular as pets due to how cute they are and how little threat they are to humans. People tend to fear them less than other dangerous spiders like black widows and brown recluses.
Now that you know jumping spiders are not poisonous, are you going to eat one or get one as a pet?
I know those two options are on opposite ends of the spectrum. Just know you could do either option and be safe.
That’s all for this article. If you enjoyed this article, read some more about spider parts and what they are used for.
