Food chain/spider cannibalism pics–jumping spiders and water spider
September 9, 2009
Hi,
I thought you guys might like these pictures. The first one is a tiny jumping spider (5mm) I found eating a small fly or winged aphid in my backyard (central Oklahoma) this summer.
Jumping Spider eats winged insect (Aphid perhaps)
The second picture is a jumping spider (1cm) I found eating a smaller jumping spider (5mm). This was taken at my aunt’s house (also in central Oklahoma).
Jumping Spider Cannibalism
The third picture was taken last summer. I was walking around my aunt’s pond when I spotted this water spider (2 in.). As I watched him, he ran across the surface of the water and attacked a smaller water spider (1cm), and then started eating him before my eyes. I’m sorry that the third picture isn’t very clear (I had to crop and brighten it so that you could see the little spider, and that greatly reduced the resolution). Thanks for the awesome site, and keep up the good work.
Josh Kouri
Six Spotted Fishing Spider: Cannibalistic Behavior
Hi Josh,
We always appreciate your submissions. We are especially thrilled with your photo of a Six Spotted Fishing Spider, Dolomedes triton, one of the most aquatic of a genus known collectively as Fishing Spiders. Your Fishing Spider was not as degraded as you indicated, but it would be best to submit camera quality images since we inevitably adjust levels and correct quality before posting anyways.
Spider, nursery web, egg sack
September 7, 2009
I photographed this spider near a creek in Maple Grove, MN – at the Maple Grove Arboretum.
Michelle Whitney
Maple Grove MN
Fishing Spider with Egg Sac
Hi Michelle,
Your spider is a Fishing Spider, Dolomedes tenebrosus. Her eggs have hatched and it appears that some of the spiderlings may have already molted.
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Posted 09 September 2009
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Huntsman Spider or Fishing Spider?
August 26, 2009
Hello. I live in Charleston, SC, and noticed this spider crawling up the side of the house. Biggest spider that I have ever seen around here, hands down. At first, I thought it was a wolf spider, then thought it might be a Fishing Spider. Now wonder if its not a Huntsman Spider. Can you tell me for sure what it is? And is it aggressive? Poisonous? Thanks in advance.
freekoffhisleash
Charleston, SC
Fishing Spider
Dear freekoffhisleash,
Your spider is a Fishing Spider in the genus Dolomedes, most likely Dolomedes tenebrosus. You may compare your photo to the ones posted on BugGuide.
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Posted 27 August 2009
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Giant spider the size of my hand
July 29, 2009
Hi WTB- My family was heading out to our above ground pool to swim on a VERY hot afternoon- approx 95 degrees F. When my husband noticed a GIANT spider sitting on top of the railing with an egg sack. I think its facinating the kids think its gross 
She wasn’t hurting anything- so I got out my camera got some good pix; and then gently moved her to our wood pile with a stick which she gladly grabbed onto without fighting…. maybe you can tell us what she is.
Sincerely, Amanda and the Weikel family
Collegeville, Pennsylvania
Fishing Spider with Egg Sac
Hi Amanda and Weikel Family,
This Fishing Spider, Dolomedes tenebrosus, is perfectly harmless, though we expect she would try to defend her egg sac if you threatened. Fishing Spiders are generally found near water and they are capable of diving beneath the surface to escape predators or to hunt prey. They can catch small fish underwater. Fishing Spiders carry their egg sacs around in their chelicerae or jaws, as opposed to Wolf Spider that drag the egg sac behind them on a silk thread. We hope your children learn your tolerance of the lower beasts.
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Posted 29 July 2009
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Fishing Spider
July 28, 2009
WTB,
I promised you these a long time ago. Here are the images of a spider
eating the frog. It’s a little hard to make out but it is probably a green
tree frog and this is on a leaf of a Sagittaria. It occurred in our little
nature area, the Kiawah Swamp Garden. Not sure of the actual type of
spider. Kinda creepy though; don’t usually consider consumption in that
direction among Phyla.
Here are a couple of other links for your enjoyment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PZTILeS4jo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFg2-bkjwPg
KICA Maint
Kiawah Island, SC
February 29, 2008
Thanks for checking on this. We’ve used your site to ID a lot of our
questions already but this one had us stumped. I’ll have to send you an
image we have of a spider, I’m assuming a fishing spider, eating a green
tree frog. It was back pre-digital so we’ll see how the scan comes out.
Thanks again for the great work you do,
Norm Shea
Director, Lakes Management
Six Spotted Fishing Spider eats Tree Frog
Dear KICA Maint,
Thanks for sending these amazing documents of a Six Spotted Fishing Spider eating a Tree Frog. It is a wonderful addition to our recent posting of a Common House Spider feasting on a Skink. We enjoyed watching your videos of Alligators.
Six Spotted Fishing Spider eats Tree Frog
Fishing spider
July 15, 2009
Hi,
Just wanted to share this picture of a fishing spider… he was in our neglected pool. I love how his legs dent the water!
Emmy
Tampa, Florida
Six Spotted Fishing Spider
Hi Emmy,
Of all the species of Fishing Spider, the Six Spotted Fishing Spider, Dolomedes triton, is probably the one most associated with water and fishing. Your photo is truly wonderful and a study in symmetry.
Update from Eric Eaton
Daniel:
I agree that image of the fishing spider is just gorgeous! Deserves to hang in a gallery.
Eric
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Posted 15 July 2009
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Monstrous brown spotted spider
June 13, 2009
We were shocked to discover this spider in a forest preserve outside Chicago. The picture actually underestimates its size because the hand shown is in front of the spider. Spider leg span was 3-3.5 inches, total body size was about two inches. Spider had some fur but wasn’t as hairy as say a tarantula. Hand is small-average male hand.
Lou and Bethany
Just outside of Chicago
Fishing Spider
Dear Lou and Bethany,
What a wonderful image of a Fishing Spider, probably Dolomedes tenebrosus. Fishing Spiders generally live near water and they have been known to dive beneath the surface and remain there to escape enemies and to fish for prey. They can actually catch fish underwater.
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Posted 15 July 2009
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Huge female spider with egg sac
Thu, Jul 2, 2009 at 6:40 PM
Hello – We were pulling up rocks from around my garden pond to replace the liner and came across this big spider, with a baby sac. Do you know what kind it is? If you like the picture, feel free to post it. Just let me know if you do. I named her Mary Beth, the Jurassic Pregnant Pond Spider. We relocated here to a different part of the yard.
Cathy
Miamisburg, Ohio
Female Fishing Spider with Egg Sac
Hi Cathy,
This is a female Fishing Spider in the genus Dolomedes, probably the Northern Dolomedes, Dolomedes tenebrosus. They are generally associated with bodies of water, which makes her habitat around your pond significant.
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Posted 03 July 2009
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Possible fisher spider in odd location
Sat, Jun 20, 2009 at 8:16 PM
My friend sent me these pictures of a spider. We think it’s a fisher spider but we’d like confirmation since it was found in a rather atypical location — namely, on her stove in her kitchen!
She lives in southern New York state. It’s mid-June, warm, but not overly hot. There are no bodies of water really close to her home (although there’s a creek down the street).
The spider was non-agressive so she put it on a paper plate and took some photos of it. She took it in a container to work and someone identified it as “a really big spider”. Obviously, as the spider is nearly 2 1/2″ inches (legs included).
She took it to the woods near her home and released it into the wild where she got more fabulous photos of it.
Could you please confirm if it is indeed a fisher spider?
Thanks so much!
Krissy
Southern New York State
Fishing Spider
Hi Krissy,
Your identification of a Fishing Spider, Dolomedes tenebrosus, is correct. Fishing Spiders do not build snare webs, and they are a wandering mobile species. Perhaps your friend’s stove was just a warm stop on the way to a new hunting ground. We love the photo on the paper plate.
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Posted 22 June 2009
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Large 4-inch spider under deck in MD
Thu, Jun 18, 2009 at 5:10 PM
Found her under the deck last night in central MD; body about 1-inch; almost 4-inch leg span. Lovely leg striations. Seemed shy. No web. Not hairy like a wolf spider and legs too long and skinny. What is she? Habitat? Have never seen one before. Would prefer she lives outside!!! Released her in our back woods with creek. Fisherman spider?
goodbug
ellicott city, MD
Fishing Spider carrying Egg Sac
Dear goodbug,
What a spectacular photo you have provided for us of a female Dolomedes Fishing Spider, probably Dolomedes tenebrosus, carrying her Egg Sac.
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Posted 19 June 2009
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Is this a fishing spider?
Thu, Jun 11, 2009 at 7:24 PM
We had a pond in our front yard and have swamp land surrounding us. But this guy lives on and under our deck. About 1 foot from our back door. He can see me coming and ducks under the deck planks when i get to close. I’d estimate him to be 3 or 4 inches from toe to toe. He is very scary! At first a wolf spider was all that came to mind.
Sam
Central New Jersey
Fishing Spider
Hi Sam,
This is a magnificent specimen of the Northern Dolomedes, Dolomedes tenebrosus, one of the Fishing Spiders. They are generally found near water and the species is capable of submerging itself both to escape predators and to capture prey which may include small fish.
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Posted 15 June 2009
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Who was spying on my photo session
Mon, May 25, 2009 at 1:51 PM
I found this spider crawling on the ground next to me while taking photos of a big ol’ wolf spider. I went ahead and gathered him up to get him in on the photo shoot. He didn’t seem quite as content sitting on top of the rock as the larger wolf spider, camera shy I guess. Obviously I cant seem to figure out what it is, the guides on the net seem to be pretty lacking. The closest I can gather is this is another species of wolf spider, some characteristics look similar but not distinct enough for me to tell.
Scott
Northern Michigan, USA
Nursery Web Spider
Hi Scott,
Though the markings are atypical, we suspected that this was a Nursery Web Spider. Upon looking through the images posted to BugGuide, we located an individual with nearly identical markings identified as Pisaurina mira. The Nursery Web Spider, which is related to the Dolomedes Fishing Spiders, is a beautiful and fascinating species.
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Posted 26 May 2009
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