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Dark Fishing (Dolomedes tenebrosus)

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.

Dark Fishing Spider

Scientific Classification

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

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.

Dark Fishing Spider Size

Eggs

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 join the egg sac or case to a surface and build a nursery web around it.

Dark Fishing Spider Egg Sac

Spiderlings

After hatching around July, the young ones become dependent on their mothers and stay in a nursery web for a few time.

Dark Fishing Spiderlings

Dark Fishing Spider Web

Unlike many other spiders, they do not weave webs for catching pray. The nursery webs are woven near some surface.

Are Dark Fishing Spiders Poisonous

They are shy in nature and don’t bite unless absolutely necessary. The bite is not detrimental at all but the sensation is quiet the same as a wasp or bee sting.

Dark Fishing

Quick Facts

Distribution USA and Canada
Habitat Trees, wooded surface and inside the house
Diet Aquatic insects and small fish
IUCN Conservation Status Not listed
Dark Fishing Spider Web
Dark Fishing Spider Image

Did You Know

  • The male carcass is said to be healthy for the female and eggs.

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.

Dark Fishing Spider

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

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.

Dark Fishing Spider Size

Eggs

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 join the egg sac or case to a surface and build a nursery web around it.

Dark Fishing Spider Egg Sac

Spiderlings

After hatching around July, the young ones become dependent on their mothers and stay in a nursery web for a few time.

Dark Fishing Spiderlings

Dark Fishing Spider Web

Unlike many other spiders, they do not weave webs for catching pray. The nursery webs are woven near some surface.

Are Dark Fishing Spiders Poisonous

They are shy in nature and don’t bite unless absolutely necessary. The bite is not detrimental at all but the sensation is quiet the same as a wasp or bee sting.

Dark Fishing

Quick Facts

Distribution USA and Canada
Habitat Trees, wooded surface and inside the house
Diet Aquatic insects and small fish
IUCN Conservation Status Not listed
Dark Fishing Spider Web
Dark Fishing Spider Image

Did You Know

  • The male carcass is said to be healthy for the female and eggs.

Image Credit: Takepart.com, Nature.mdc.mo.gov, Newsroom.unl.edu, Dispatch.com,Images.fineartamerica.com, Bugguide.net,
Spiderbytes.org

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