Eyelash Jumping Spider, Hyllus Diardi

Eyelash jumping spiders, Hyllus diardi, is a popular pet jumping spider kept for its remarkable size and beautiful appearance. They are native to Southeast Asia and can be found in countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia. These spiders inhabit including forests, gardens, and urban areas. H. Diardi females possess a beautifully marked dark & cream exoskeleton, with males being entirely velvet black in colour. Females are typically fluffy and compact, with males being more "spider-like" These arachnids possess 8 large black eyes expertly adapted to tracking their prey, with elongated 'setae' (eyelashes!) on the side of their head. In fact, like all jumping spiders, H. Diardi are remarkable hunters and incredibly intelligent, using complex analytical skills, unseen in most other arachnids, to tackle down prey often larger than themselves. These critters are extremely mobile, and can launch themselves across distances multiple times their own body length, a feat incredible to behold in captivity during feeding time. These critters possess relatively simple care requirements, with most attention being paid to the regulation of their environmental conditions. The eyelash jumping spider requires a relative humidity level of around 70%RH, and temperatures of around 23c. The enclosure humidity levels can be maintained via frequent misting of the enclosure walls and moistening of the substrate. They should be provided with a large, enriching environment with plenty of spaces to explore, hide, and web. Like most jumping spiders, Hyllus diardi possesses venom glands and can deliver venomous bites. However, their venom is generally not considered medically significant to humans. These spiders grow to around an inch in size, with females being slightly bigger than males.