Jumping spider - Helpis minitabunda – Bronze Hopper, juvenile, 7mm

Jumping spider - Helpis minitabunda – Bronze Hopper, juvenile, 7mm

This is a young specimen of a slender, elongated jumping spider. It will reach approximately 13mm as an adult.

It has a distinctive bronze or coppery sheen across its body, with a pale stripe running along the top of its abdomen. Males develop a bright orange or red patch on the top of the head at maturity, making them easy to identify.

Native to Australia and also established in New Zealand, where it is one of the more commonly encountered jumping spiders in gardens and urban areas.

Like all jumping spiders, it has excellent vision and actively stalks and pounces on small insects. Fast-moving and alert, but harmless to humans.