Fishing-spider
Guides
Dolomedes albineus
white-banded fishing spider, whitebanded fishing spider
Dolomedes albineus is a large nursery web spider native to the southeastern and central United States. Mature females reach approximately 23 mm in body length, males about 18 mm. The species is named for the distinctive white band immediately below the eyes and above the chelicerae, though coloration is highly variable—ranging from mottled gray to mossy green with darker markings. Unlike some fishing spiders, D. albineus is strongly associated with aquatic habitats, particularly cypress swamps and river edges, where it hunts from perches on vegetation or pilings. Females carry egg sacs in their jaws before constructing nursery webs and guarding the emerging spiderlings.
Dolomedes scriptus
striped fishing spider
Dolomedes scriptus, the striped fishing spider, is a large semi-aquatic hunting spider native to North America. Females can exceed 6 cm in legspan. The species is distinguished by pale brown coloration with lighter stripes on the legs and a longitudinal stripe along each side of the body. It is closely related to D. tenebrosus and shares the genus's characteristic ability to hunt on and near water surfaces.
Dolomedes vittatus
Banded Fishing Spider
Dolomedes vittatus is a nursery web spider commonly known as the Banded Fishing Spider. It occurs throughout the United States. As a member of the genus Dolomedes, it is associated with aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats where it hunts prey at the water's surface. The species is among the more frequently observed fishing spiders in North America, with over 5,000 documented observations.