Philaeus chrysops, the Red Bellied Jumping spider, holds a special place in my heart as this species was the very first jumping spider I ever noticed, caught, and cared for. My initial encounter was with a striking male displaying the species’ characteristic vivid red abdomen, elongated front legs, and dark face dominated by large, dark eyes that immediately captivated my attention.

 

A few weeks later, I discovered my first female P. chrysops, though identifying her proved surprisingly challenging. Unlike the vibrant males, she presented an entirely different appearance - a dark abdomen adorned with tiny white V-shaped markings and a dark grey, hair-covered cephalothorax. Her most distinctive feature was her huge dark eyes framed by light-colored, very prominent hairs that gave her an almost mystical appearance.

 

What truly amazed me about this species was their remarkable intelligence and observational skills. Both individuals displayed extraordinary calmness and quickly adapted to handling, never rushing to hide but instead maintaining constant awareness of their surroundings. I watched in fascination as they would observe distant locations throughout the house, appearing to think and calculate before making any movement. This thoughtful, deliberate behavior sparked my obsession with the species.

 

The female’s reproductive behavior provided both wonder and heartbreak. She created an egg sac just two weeks after I acquired her and immediately moved inside to tend to her developing offspring. Respecting her maternal duties, I waited patiently for her to emerge. However, after 28 days of no activity, anxiety overtook me and I carefully opened the sac. Inside, I discovered the babies had developed well - some had even molted - but tragically, all were dead, including the mother. I believe the mother died of natural causes and sac’s tough construction prevented spiderlings from opening it when the time came, leading to their demise. For future encounters, I’ve learned to check for movement around day 15 to potentially intervene if necessary.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​