I’ve had an uninvited guest in my bathroom since December 6th when I first found a female Bold Jumper spider on the wall. They are also called Bold Jumping Spiders.
Female Bold Jumper Spider – Cell phone photo
I won’t kill her and it is way too cold to release her outside so she can stay as long as she wants. She is so freaking cute.
At first I only saw the Bold Jumper spider right after I took showers but yesterday her behavior changed. She stayed near my bathroom window all day long and seemed to be exploring every nook and cranny there. I took the photo above with my Samsung cell phone using the Selective focus mode yesterday afternoon.
It took me a while to identify her as a Bold Jumper (Phidippus audax) and then a bit longer to confirm her as a female.
It was a bit odd that at first she only showed up when I would shower. I even shared a few images of her on my Facebook page with funny text about that fact. Name suggestions for her are requested! I have actually been enjoying having her hang around.
This morning when I got up I thought that my guest had died because I found her on her back on the floor below my bathroom window and she wasn’t moving. I felt a pang of sorrow for a brief moment and then I quickly realized that I have become fond of my bathroom jumping spider.
Much like a turtle, my spider couldn’t turn herself over and when I gently flipped her over she became active again. I moved her from the floor back to the window sill where as I type this she is walking around acting normal again.
I’m so happy she is my housemate and I’m glad that she came to stay. Yes, some people might think I am strange. I am perfectly okay with that.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my insect and spider photos.
I don’t know…ever since the Harry Potter movies I’ve been a little wary of spiders. Not actually…but when we visited Australia a few years ago there was a spider on one of the walls of our hosts home and it was huge. Like a Daddy Long Legs on steroids. But you know what? It didn’t bother them in the least! They treated it just like you would…as a welcome guest. After a day it had moved on… but the family, even the kids, were perfectly OK with it being there. I would imagine it could have stayed there as long as it wanted. The Aussies have very different approach to dealing with critters than most Americans. We could learn a lot from them. Great pic. Thanks Mia.
I’m so excited that you have this spider companion!! I love these particular spiders—we almost always have one in the house and they make interesting company. Lots of behaviour that can be observed!
Haley raised a couple that accidentally came in on her plants. She put them in her terrarium over winter with her plants and fed the spiders. They die after so many molts, I don’t remember how many, she would. She counted the molts and on the last molt they laid eggs sacks that hatched in the spring and she released them back outside. She has some neat video of them interacting by waving their legs and drumming. I don’t remember what she fed them but if you have questions about keeping yours alive you can call her. She would not mind talking spider! Is German for spider Spinne? How about Fury or Phidi for a name?
Im glad that your spider friend is ok. I worried for a moment. I try to capture and put outside but in your case not possible. Maybe the extra warmth of the shower draws her to the bathroom.
A name suggestion. : Misty
I am intrigued by spiders. My partner is not.
He would insist that she be ushered outside – though our winters are MUCH milder than yours.
Your phone captures amazing photos.
Well, she is cute. I don’t want them hanging around my house. They are history. I have been bitten by some kind of spider several times in the past and had to got to a Doctor for treatment. Some spiders in my house are the dark larger ones that show up in the tub also. I have a friend who loves spiders like you do, and she does not kill them. Have a good day!
Loving the spider series. I am so easily entertained.
I had an orb weaver friend many years ago, made a glorious on my patio door. I had to use the other door for quite awhile. In winter, she vanished. But I found her, tucked in the crack where the door slides. In spring she came out again and made more of her webs, which she’d keep clean and mended. The second winter, she vanished again and this time, she was gone. I have not found their life spans.
A delightful companion! Your phone provided an excellent image. Need to look up the species as its behavior is most interesting.