A beautiful, if unusual spider picture (obviously there is photos of said spider in post)

[Soubriquet]

This is Hermes. Hermes is a mature adult jumping spider. It is also a very unusual jumping spider. It is half female and half male.

The left side displays the small pedipalps (like a front leg) and a pinky purple chelicerae (fangs) which is a traditional colour for females.

The right side has a large boxing glove style pedipalp, and greeny blue chelicerae, traditionally found in males

This beautiful spiders is owned by MM Invertebrates. I had permission by them to post this.

I just thought it was such a beautiful looking spider that other people might want to see

I must admit I struggle with spiders - I don't kill them or anything but I will admit to driving a 45 min round trip everyday for two weeks when one took up residence in my bath once! Had to shower at mums 😂. I'm fine as long as we are are least 10 feet apart.
But Hermes is stunning!

I liked the description of them as 'Eight legged cats'.

Wasn't quite so enthusiastic about the Tegenaria lad that trotted across my bare foot in the bathroom earlier, but he was quickly relocated. Speedy little chap, that one - caught him by putting the glass ahead of his escape route and then listened to him stamping his little feet on the card.

I actually have a small common house spider living in the corner of my room. He’s been there for months and I’ve called him Bob. He’s only about the size of a pea but he’s thriving well. I’m saying he but I don’t really know.

I have zebra jumping spiders in my greenhouses. I love them, and hope they help to keep harmful bugs down. They are really cute! (Love Hermes!)

They really are adorable. Spiders are cats!

Did you know there’s a species of spider who actually keep tiny frogs as pets. The frogs eat the parasites that would destroy the spiders eggs, and in return, the spider protects the frogs from being eaten

I thought so too!

Amazing photos.

I was momentarily attracted by keeping jumping spiders. Then I saw their life span. I couldn’t invest in so short lived an animal.

Might not be as cute but gosh what an impressive species. And kind of cute in its own way

Had to look that up, we don't have them in Australia (though we do have very small "house spiders", don't know the species). I certainly wouldn't be happy if one ran over me!

I had a cute little jumping spider living on my gate in Queensland. Don't know the species, but it had some gorgeous emerald green patches. First time I'd seen a brightly coloured one, the ones I was used to in Victoria were shades of brown.

I like its rather scruffy, unkempt look. 😄

I had a zebra jumping spider in my bathroom back in the summer. I may have squealed in delight - pleased it chose to stay chez moi. I also have various house spiders and harvestmen; I am less enamoured of the house spiders due to their love of surprising me by shooting out from under the sofa, but they are tolerated because they do good. I suspect the cat is the reason they often have fewer legs than they should.

They do have a short life span. I had one called Artemis. Was hoping it was going to be a girl cos they live slightly longer but no he was a boy so he was NN Artie.

It doesn’t actually hurt as much when they die because whilst you can become a bit attached to them, you’re not handling them all the time so it’s easier to disconnect yourself from them.

This was Artie

I had a spider living on my kitchen ceiling 2021, he was there for 6 months he died and fell off in April 2022 I’d grown so fond of my house spider I buried him in the garden.

I think for me balance is off. I am a nurturer. I want to look after it and get to know it and get attached to it. If I can’t handle it, take cute photos of it, personify it and get attached I’m not sure what the point would be.
So it clearly wasn’t a pet for me!
(It’s the Goldilocks zone. I declined a leopard gecko because it would be with me longer than the kids. Parrots are a no-no for the same reason. I could do rehab and release!)

Beautiful. I had one of those large winter spiders in my bedroom the big fat hairy ones that come inside in the winter. He was on the wall and for some reason I thought it best to move him to the spare room, so I went to get him on my hand and he jumped halfway across the room.

I want to see one of these: a mirror spider. Nature at its finest.

T-rexing

Zebra jumping spiders are great. We had one hopping round our dining room for a while. Entertaining to watch and they leave no sticky mess everywhere. The exact opposite of cellar spiders in both senses.

Love the orange palps - very 70s colour scheme there!

I love spiders. I love watching the ones living in my house creep out at night.

Those jumping spiders are beautiful and incredibly cute looking.