Spider identification
The tiny black and white striped spider hopping along the window sill or the brick in the sun is the zebra jumper. It is one of the most common spiders people notice up close, because it lives on the surfaces we lean on, and it is completely harmless.
Small, 5 to 7 mm, black with bold white stripes across the abdomen and white marks on the head, compact and short legged, with two large forward facing eyes. It moves in quick hops and short runs and stops to look at anything that moves. No web; it spins a small silk shelter under a sill or in a crack to rest in and lay eggs.
Sunny brick, stone, stucco and siding, window sills, door frames, fence posts, stone steps and patio furniture. It needs warm surfaces and light, so it is on the south and west sides of the house on a sunny day, and it often comes inside on a sunny window.
From the first warm days in May to October. Adults overwinter in silk shelters under bark, trim and stones.
Not a concern. It is far too small to bite through skin in normal handling and it jumps away rather than defends itself. 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 zebra jumpers and there is no reason to. They build no webs, leave no droppings, eat flies, aphids and small insects, and move on. If you are seeing them on the house, the house is simply warm and sunny. Call us about webbing on the eaves, lights and window corners, which comes from a different group of spiders. 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.
Bold jumping spider, Running crab spider. The bold jumping spider is twice the size, black with spots rather than stripes, and has green mouthparts. Running crab spiders are flat and grey brown, run sideways rather than hopping, and do not stop to look at you. The full list with photos is in the common spiders in Ontario guide.
Good to know
No. It is one of the least concerning spiders in Ontario, harmless to people and pets.
Sunny windows are warm and attract small flies, which is what it hunts. It wandered in from the sill. Open the window or lift it out on a piece of paper.
No. They are not a pest. If you also have webs on the eaves and around lights, those are the spiders we treat.
Related guides: Do you need to spray for spiders, Bold jumping spider. Service areas where this spider is found: Goderich, Sarnia and Bright's Grove.
