Because jumping spiders are hunters, they create webs as a habitat and place of retreat rather than a means of catching prey. They will also use the web to lay eggs and molt. In fact, they will often build a separate web for each of these purposes. These web habitats have several sections and are loosely woven. Usually the spider will create two different entrances.
They will construct their habitat in crevices and other hidden places, such as gaps around window frames or under furniture. Outside, they are usually found in loosely covered areas like under leaves or bark.
Since these spiders do not use their web to catch prey, they rely on their other abilities to successfully hunt for it. As their name implies, jumping spiders have a tremendous ability to leap. They are also thought to have the best vision of any spider species and can detect movement that is a foot and a half away. However, their vision is best during the day and rather poor at night. These spiders also are very agile and can move rapidly backwards and sideways.
Sometimes these spiders will sit in wait for prey and other times they will stalk it until they are ready to pounce. Although they have the ability to jump as far as 20 times their body length, they usually do so only if threatened, and tend to jump only a couple of inches when hunting. Interestingly, when they jump, they will attach a line of silk as a safety.
When hunting indoors, jumping spiders are usually seen around doors and windows where they are most likely to find prey. Outside, they are often seen on rocks, fences, decks, bushes, and the like.