Spider identification
The chunky black spider on the deck rail that turns to look at you and then hops away is the bold jumping spider. It is the one people photograph and ask about, usually wanting to know whether it is dangerous. It is not, and it is one of the few spiders on this site we would tell you to leave alone.
Black and compact, about 1 cm, with white or orange spots on the abdomen, short thick legs and two very large forward facing eyes. The mouthparts flash iridescent green or blue in sunlight, which is the surest tell. It moves in short jumps rather than running and will turn its whole body to track movement. No web; it spins only a small silk shelter under trim, in a shutter or behind a sign to sleep in.
Sunny siding, deck rails, window frames, fence posts, brick and stone in full sun. It hunts flies and other insects by sight and needs warmth and light, so it is on the south and west walls on a sunny afternoon.
From the first warm days in May into October. Adults overwinter in silk shelters under bark and trim and reappear with the spring sun.
Only if trapped against skin, for example inside clothing, and then mild and local. It would far rather jump away. There are no lasting effects. Most "spider bites" in Ontario are never confirmed; see the bite section of our guide to common spiders in Ontario for what a real one looks like.
We do not treat for jumping spiders and we will tell you so if that is what you have. They build no webs, leave no mess, eat flies and move on. If one is caught up in the webbing we vacuum from a corner it goes with the rest, but it is never the reason for a visit. Every visit ends with a written summary of what we found and where product was applied, if any. Our spider control service and 60 day guarantee pages have the details and pricing.
Zebra jumper, Eastern parson spider. The zebra jumper is its small black and white striped cousin on sunny brick. The eastern parson spider is also black with white but is a fast night hunter with long legs and no jumping, usually found indoors in fall. The full list with photos is in the common spiders in Ontario guide.
Good to know
It has venom for its prey like every spider but it is not medically significant to people. A bite is rare and no worse than a small bump.
Jumping spiders have the best eyesight of any spider and hunt by sight. Turning to track movement is how they assess whether something is prey or a threat.
No. They are harmless and useful. Call us about the webbing on the eaves, the porch light and the window corners, which is a different group of spiders.
Related guides: Do you need to spray for spiders, The spider life cycle and why timing matters. Service areas where this spider is found: Sarnia and Bright's Grove, Goderich.
