Fishing (Dolomedes)

The fishing spiders from the Pisauridae family live mainly in Asia but are also spotted in North America, South America, Africa, Europe, and New Zealand. These spiders usually stay near water to catch their food. But there’s one different kind, the white-banded fishing spider, which prefers to live on trees. Here, we’ll share interesting facts about them.

Scientific Classification

• Family: Pisauridae
• Genus: Dolomedes

List of Spiders Belonging to the Genus

Dolomedes actaeon	Dolomedes eberhardarum	Dolomedes instabilis
Dolomedes albicomus	Dolomedes elegans	Dolomedes intermedius
Dolomedes albicoxus	Dolomedes facetus	Dolomedes japonicus
Dolomedes albineus	Dolomedes fageli	Dolomedes kalanoro
Dolomedes angolensis	Dolomedes femoralis	Dolomedes karschi
Dolomedes angustivirgatus	Dolomedes fernandensis	Dolomedes lafoensis
Dolomedes angustus	Dolomedes fimbriatus	Dolomedes laticeps
Dolomedes annulatus	Dolomedes flaminius	Dolomedes lesserti
Dolomedes aquaticus	Dolomedes fontus	Dolomedes lomensis
Dolomedes batesi	Dolomedes furcatus	Dolomedes machadoi
Dolomedes bistylus	Dolomedes fuscipes	Dolomedes macrops
Dolomedes boiei	Dolomedes fuscus	Dolomedes mendigoetmopasi
Dolomedes bukhkaloi	Dolomedes gertschi	Dolomedes minahassae
Dolomedes chevronus	Dolomedes gracilipes	Dolomedes minor
Dolomedes chinesus	Dolomedes guamuhaya	Dolomedes mizhoanus
Dolomedes chroesus	Dolomedes habilis	Dolomedes naja
Dolomedes costatus	Dolomedes holti	Dolomedes neocaledonicus
Dolomedes crosbyi	Dolomedes horishanus	Dolomedes nigrimaculatus
Dolomedes dondalei	Dolomedes hyppomene	Dolomedes noukhaiva
Dolomedes ohsuditia	Dolomedes okefinokensis	Dolomedes orion
Dolomedes palmatus	Dolomedes palpiger	Dolomedes paroculus
Dolomedes pegasus	Dolomedes petalinus	Dolomedes plantarius
Dolomedes pullatus	Dolomedes raptor	Dolomedes raptoroides
Dolomedes saganus	Dolomedes schauinslandi	Dolomedes scriptus
Dolomedes senilis	Dolomedes signatus	Dolomedes silvicola
Dolomedes smithi	Dolomedes spathularis	Dolomedes stilatus
Dolomedes straeleni	Dolomedes striatus	Dolomedes submarginalivittatus
Dolomedes sulfureus	Dolomedes sumatranus	Dolomedes tadzhikistanicus
Dolomedes tenebrosus or dark fishing spider	Dolomedes titan	Dolomedes toldo
Dolomedes transfuga	Dolomedes triton	Dolomedes upembensis
Dolomedes vatovae	Dolomedes vittatus	Dolomedes wetarius
Dolomedes wollastoni	Dolomedes yawatai	Dolomedes zatsun
Dolomedes zhangjiajiensis

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

• Size: Most species are large, where females are around 1.0 inches (2.54 cm) with a leg span of around 3.1 inches (1.2 cm), while males appear smaller.

• Color: Each species varies in coloration, but the common thing is the body color is related to their habitat. Those who live on rocky surfaces mostly have brown and grey bodies almost camouflaging against the surrounding. Those thriving near vegetation have pale stripes all over.

• Other Characteristic Features: Their foremost legs have claws that help them move around. They also have short velvet hair covering their bodies, helping them stand or move in water with ease. These spiders are even characterized by thick legs, allowing them to handle prey bigger than them in size with ease.

Eggs

Females then carry the sacs until the eggs are hatched. Just before hatching, the mother spiders make a silk web, depositing the sacs safely on them.

Spiderlings

After emerging, spiderlings stay 3-7 days on the web and then disperse either by walking or ballooning.

The Web

Spiders of this genus do not build webs. Instead, they catch their prey by implementing cunning tactics and moving at top speed upon sighting them.

Are Fishing Spiders Venomous?

Yes, fishing spiders have venom, but it’s mostly used to subdue their prey.

Can Fishing Spiders Bite?

Fishing spiders can bite if they feel threatened, but their bite is usually not harmful to humans and is similar to a bee sting in sensation.

Ecological Importance and Behavior of Fishing Spider

Fishing spiders play a pivotal role in maintaining ecological balance, serving as both predators and prey. Their hunting skills help control the population of aquatic insects and small fish, while their presence in the food web provides sustenance for larger predators.

Natural Predator and Prey-Predator Dynamics: Fishing spiders face threats from snakes, birds, wasps, and dragonflies. This intricate predator-prey dynamic ensures the stability and diversity of ecosystems, demonstrating nature’s delicate balance.

Relationship with Humans: Generally, fishing spiders maintain a peaceful coexistence with humans, as they prefer to stay near water bodies or on trees. Their bite poses minimal risk to humans, and their presence can even be beneficial in controlling insect populations. Educating the public about these spiders can foster a greater appreciation for their ecological role and reduce unwarranted fear. 

Quick Facts

Other Names	Dock spiders, wharf spiders, and raft spiders
Distribution	All over the world
Habitat	Mostly waters, but Dolomedes albineus lives in the tree
Diet	Aquatic insects and fish
Lifespan	Females: Up to 2 years Males: 1 year to 1 year 2 months
Predator	Snakes, birds, wasps, and dragonflies

Did You Know

• Diomedes in Greek translates to deceitful or wily, justifying the temperament of these spiders.
• Although post-mating, all the male fishing spiders are eaten by their female counterparts. In some cases, they get eaten beforehand too. Either female spiders fail to recognize them as mates and mistake them for snacks, which could be a way of aggressively rejecting the mating proposal from the male spider. It also depends on female spiders, as they decide which one is more important for them at that point, food or mating.
• They can figure out if any prey is around them by the vibration on the water’s surface.
• Female fishing spiders have extremely good visions.

In summary, fishing spiders are large, aquatic predators with a wide distribution, playing key ecological roles.