Fishing Spiders
Fishing spiders are engineering marvels as well as a feared predators. They are a genus of spiders called Dolomedes, and get their common name based on their hunting strategy.
| Spider Resources Cellar Spiders Running Crab Spiders Funnel Web Spiders Jumping Spiders Crab Spiders Daddy Long Legs Wolf Spiders Writing Spiders Long-jawed Orb Weavers |
The six-spotted fishing spider (Dolomedes triton) in the picture provides a graphical example. It is sitting on a rock near a big puddle, watching for appropriate prey (insects, minnows etc., al) that either lands on the top of the water or right below the surface.
Once spotted, the spider can dart out onto the water and grab the prey. They can literally swim, or as some prefer, walk on water, to reach it. Its larger than average size and stripes and spots patterns makes for easy field identification.
Different fishing spider species populate different regions of the United States.
The gray colored spider in the picture on the left is another common fishing spider in the United States, dolomedes tenebrosus.
It is a relatively common species throughout the United States, with varying brown to gray colors. It is also a bit smaller than the six-spoted fishing spider.
© 2005 Patricia A. Michaels