Fishing Spiders is belong to the Pisauridae family which includes the
Nursery Web spiders. They are often mistaken for Wolf Spiders but can be
distinguished by their colouring and number of eyes. Pisaurids have their
eyes arranged in 2 rows, the posterior row slightly recurved, the median
eyes in the second row slightly (if any) larger than the others. (Wolf
spiders have eyes arranged in 3 rows).
There are several types of Fishing Spiders -
Dolomedes tenebrosus, Dolomedes
Triton, Dolomedes albineus, Dolomedes striatus,
Dolomedes
vittatus and the Giant Fishing Spider.
 Dolomedes
tenebrosus - The large female
Dolomedes tenebrosus
has a body (cephalothorax and
abdomen) that reaches about 1” long. When outstretched legs are included in
the measurements, it can measure over 3” long. Males are about half this
size. The body is a mixture of light brown and light and dark gray. The
legs have dark rings and long spines. The abdomen has 3 conspicuous black
W-shaped marks, each of which ends in a light brown mark. This species
occurs from southern Canada south to Florida and west to Texas and the
Dakotas. Adults can be found throughout late spring and summer. The
spiders tend to lurk in corners and crevices during the day, and they hunt
actively after dark.
North American pisaurids are all
wandering spiders, stalking their prey rather than snaring it in webs. The
members of the genus Dolomedes are the “fishing spiders.” Unlike
wolf spiders, which they resemble in their giant size, they typically live
near water. They run freely over water in pursuit of prey, including small
fish and aquatic insects. When frightened, they may dive beneath the
surface. Dolomedes tenebrosus
are, however,
opportunistic, generalist feeders, and they have even been known to consume
slugs despite their sticky mucous . Usual habitats for D. tenebrosus
are swamp, pond, and lake margins, where it may be found on tree trunks,
rocks, logs, and similar situations. Individuals are also found in dark and
damp situations beneath bridges or culverts, or in rock piles. Although the
Dolomedes tenebrosus
is often found near water, this
species is not as well adapted to an aquatic environment as some other
Dolomedes species. Individuals sometimes stray quite far from water and
may even be found in dry wooded areas. Some individuals enter houses, where
they may be found in basements, kitchens, and even bedrooms.
Although fishing spiders are big enough to give a painful bite, they
are not considered dangerous.
 Giant
Fishing Spider - The genus Ancylometes
contains 15 species at the moment counting some of the largest
araneomorph spiders, like the A. rufus: adult females which measure
4 - 5 cm in body and more than 10 - 12 cm as legspan; the males are
smaller, with about 2.5 - 3 cm body but with longer legs.
Both are
brown with dark spots on the abdomen. Males have two thin clear
lines all along the carapace, very evident pedipalps and longer legs.
Juveniles are pretty similar to adults but external sex
determination is sure only in the last moults when patterns on
carapace, abdomen and pedipalps shape become visible.
Dolomedes vittatus
- The Dolomedes vittatus Fishing Spider has triangular dark spots
in front of the thoracic groove.
 Dolomedes triton
- The Six-Spotted Fishing Spider (Dolomedes triton), is
slightly smaller than D. tenebrosus, but it is nevertheless a
very large spider. It is often seen hunting on the water's surface
in ponds and slow-moving streams.
Information
and pictures were taken from children's projects and where credited to that
child does not claim to be original information. Where possible, permission
to reproduce has been sought. Any infringement of copyright is purely
unintentional.
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