Can Wolf Spiders Jump? (Should You Be Worried?)

If there are insects to eat, there is a big chance that the wolf spider is somewhere near, locking its eight big dark eyes in their direction. Wolf spiders live everywhere, from meadows and mountains to deserts and rainforests, basically anywhere they can find insects to eat. Not even volcanic lava tubes will prevent them from feast when hungry.

You can either love them or hate them, but you can still admire them for their wolf-like hunting skills. Well, as long as they don’t jump on you, right?

Can Wolf Spiders Jump?

Wolf spiders can certainly jump, but they only do so when they are hunting their prey. They have sudden movements where they chase and then pounce on the prey and inject venom into it.

The distance a wolf spider can jump will depend on the actual wolf spider species, and there are over 2,300 of them.

Wolf spiders can be found mostly on the ground where you see their fangs, but sometimes you can be easily tricked as they are quite experts in camouflage you see.

Dark colors on their bodies help them blend while hunting, and that’s why they prefer low and dark spots to hide. They also dig burrows or make holes under rocks to live in.

Some species of wolf spider chase down and grab their prey, but other species would wait for the prey and then ambush it.

Wolf spiders often jump on their prey and hold it between their legs to inject venom.

RELATED: 52 Wolf Spider Facts: What You Need To Know

Do wolf spiders jump on humans?

Wolf spiders don’t usually jump on humans as their primary instinct is to jump on something they see as prey, and humans are certainly not wolf spider prey. They see humans as huge animals and most likely will run away.

Wolf spiders will not bite or attack humans unless you provoke them, but then it’s your fault. This would mean you went out of your way and grabbed or squeezed it, and as a result, you got an itching and painful bite.

RELATED: Are Wolf Spiders Dangerous?

Should you kill a wolf spider?

Wolf Spider
Wolf Spider

It would be best if you didn’t kill a wolf spider. For that matter, don’t kill any spider at all. Wolf spiders eat insects. What better pest control than that? It is natural to fear spiders, but wolf spiders are not a threat to humans.

If you see a wolf spider, you should leave it alone. If it’s inside your house and you don’t want it there, you can just take a piece of paper, allow the spider to climb, carry it outside, and release it.

Wolf spiders will eat grasshoppers, ants, flies, and several other small insects that you don’t want around or inside your house. Remember, spider in the house means insect-free house.

RELATED: Do Baby Spiders Bite? (Can They Be Dangerous To You??)

What attracts wolf spiders in the house?

Often you will see wolf spiders inside your home (you wouldn’t be reading this if you didn’t), and you don’t need to be an arachnophobe to feel uncomfortable around them or any other animal in your home that is not your pet for that matter.

Wolf spiders like dark and warm (not too warm, though) spots where they seek cover, usually bringing them to dark places in your house like your garage, basements, and your garden.

They will find cracks and small openings around windows and under the doors and make themself comfortable while waiting for food. And yes, food, that’s why they are there where you want them the least.

Whether you want it or not, your house is probably like a candy house for them during cold or really hot weather outside, with sweets just waiting to be discovered.

Wolf spiders like to explore holes, especially those left by other pests, so it would be good to inspect your walls, foundation, doors, and windows area to prevent them from finding a shelter if you don’t want them in your house.

Removing their food source is the way to go, and by removing, we mean clean, clean, clean.

What spiders can jump?

A good few species of spiders can jump, but most of the spiders that jump belong to the family Salticidae. When we say good few, we mean over 4,000 species of jumping spiders in the world.

Around 300 are found in the United States and Canada, but most species of jumping spiders live in Tropical forests.

They can also be found in deserts and mountains but also in yards and parks as they love open and sunny areas. You can’t find them in webs either as they search their food on foot, actively hunting prey during the day.

Jumping spiders are very intelligent and have the best vision of any other spider species. Their jumping abilities allow them to jump up to 50 times their own body length by changing the blood pressure in their legs.

Find out more about jumping spiders here: Discover The Cutest Spiders In The World (Beat Your Fear Of Spiders)

Do jumping spiders jump on humans?

Jumping spiders are not dangerous to humans, but yes, technically, they can jump on you. They jump when they feel threatened or when hunting prey. Like most spiders, they will not bite unless provoked and, of course, if they think they are in danger.

Even if they do bite, they most likely won’t puncture your skin, but if it does, you’ll rarely have a severe reaction unless you’re allergic. But bite itself can be painful.

Here you can read more about jumping spiders: Discover The Cutest Spiders In The World (Beat Your Fear Of Spiders)