Belonging to the Pisauridae family, this species is similar to the striped fishing spider due to its physical similarities. Like its other cousins, the female dark fishing spider also engages in an act of sexual cannibalism, eating off the male after mating. The male dies on its own and the carcass is consumed by the female.
Size: Females are 0.59 -1.0 in (1.4 – 2.4 cm) and males are 0.27 – 0.51 in (0.68 – 1.2 cm). The legs are 1.9 – 3.5 in (4.8 – 8.8 cm) long.
Color: Dark or pale brown body with chevron markings. Reddish or brownish-black bands on legs.
Other Characteristic Features: Two rows of eyes and the larger ones are at the top.
Around June, the female spider lays around 1,000-1,400 eggs in a sac that is attached to her body. A few days before hatching, the female
After hatching around July, the young ones become dependent on their mothers and stay in a nursery web for a few time.
Unlike many other spiders, they do not weave webs for catching pray. The nursery webs are woven near some surface.
They are shy in nature and don’t bite unless absolutely necessary. The bite is not detrimental at all but the sensation is
| Distribution | USA and Canada |
| Habitat | Trees, wooded surface and inside the house |
| Diet | Aquatic insects and small fish |
| IUCN Conservation Status | Not listed |
Image Credit: Takepart.com, Nature.mdc.mo.gov, Newsroom.unl.edu, Dispatch.com,Images.fineartamerica.com, Bugguide.net,
Spiderbytes.org
Belonging to the Pisauridae family, this species is similar to the striped fishing spider due to its physical similarities. Like its other cousins, the female dark fishing spider also engages in an act of sexual cannibalism, eating off the male after mating. The male dies on its own and the carcass is consumed by the female.
Size: Females are 0.59 -1.0 in (1.4 – 2.4 cm) and males are 0.27 – 0.51 in (0.68 – 1.2 cm). The legs are 1.9 – 3.5 in (4.8 – 8.8 cm) long.
Color: Dark or pale brown body with chevron markings. Reddish or brownish-black bands on legs.
Other Characteristic Features: Two rows of eyes and the larger ones are at the top.
Around June, the female spider lays around 1,000-1,400 eggs in a sac that is attached to her body. A few days before hatching, the female
After hatching around July, the young ones become dependent on their mothers and stay in a nursery web for a few time.
Unlike many other spiders, they do not weave webs for catching pray. The nursery webs are woven near some surface.
They are shy in nature and don’t bite unless absolutely necessary. The bite is not detrimental at all but the sensation is
| Distribution | USA and Canada |
| Habitat | Trees, wooded surface and inside the house |
| Diet | Aquatic insects and small fish |
| IUCN Conservation Status | Not listed |
Image Credit: Takepart.com, Nature.mdc.mo.gov, Newsroom.unl.edu, Dispatch.com,Images.fineartamerica.com, Bugguide.net,
Spiderbytes.org
