Menemerus semilimbatus, commonly known as the half-edged wall jumping spider, is native to the Mediterranean region and thrives in warm, dry climates across southern Europe, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East. Like many successful jumping spider species, they’ve adapted remarkably well to human environments.

 

This species is very common around houses and buildings, sharing territory with Plexippus paykulli. However, in my experience, P. paykulli individuals are both more abundant and significantly bolder—they actively venture out to hunt in open spaces. M. semilimbatus, by contrast, displays much more timid behavior. When they do emerge to hunt, they stick religiously to vertical walls, positioning themselves against surfaces that match their coloration. I believe this is a deliberate camouflage strategy, as their mottled brown and beige patterns blend seamlessly with stone, bark, and house walls.

 

The species exhibits clear sexual dimorphism in both size and appearance. Females are absolutely adorable, sporting exceptionally fluffy, white-haired pedipalps that give them an endearing, almost soft appearance. Males, true to jumping spider form, have darker, bulbous pedipalps resembling tiny boxing gloves. Their robust, hairy legs often show beautiful orange-brown coloration with darker tips.

 

Despite their charming looks, both sexes are remarkably timid and resistant to human interaction. I’ve captured and observed multiple males and females, hoping to build the kind of rapport I’ve experienced with other species, but I’ve never succeeded in befriending a single M. semilimbatus individual. After a few days in captivity, they become somewhat accustomed to my hand and will tolerate my presence within their enclosure. However, the moment they realize they’re outside their enclosure, they flee frantically.

 

This behavior reveals something fascinating about their spatial awareness—they clearly understand the difference between being captive inside their enclosure and being outside of it. They recognize the boundaries of their temporary home and know when those boundaries have been crossed. This level of environmental awareness is remarkable for such small creatures.

 

Out of respect for their obvious discomfort with captivity, I always release my M. semilimbatus specimens back into their natural habitat after about a week of observation. While some species seem to adapt to human interaction, this one clearly prefers to remain wild.

 

One of their most distinctive identifying features is a bold white stripe running across their torso, extending from the eyes all the way to the abdomen. When viewed from the side, this line sits at the center of the torso, running parallel to the ground beneath them. This characteristic “half-edged” appearance is what gives the species its name “semilimbatus”—referring to this semi-margined stripe that helps identifying them.