The habitat of this species seems to be more variable than that of other members of the genus. Collection notes and personal observations show it to be commonly encountered in the environs of the swamps and ponds in the southern United States coastal plain and the lakes and ponds of the glaciated part of the range. Although little microhabitat data accompanied the northern collections, a large number of collections gave the name of a lake as part of the locality data. In the southern coastal plain I have collected D. tenebrosus primarily from the vertical trunks of trees and other objects emerging from slow-moving streams and ponds, a habitat that is shared with D. okefinokensis. Unlike other Dolomedes, this species was regularly collected a considerable distance from water. Data with specimens collected in Indiana and Pennsylvania state that they were found "on trunk of dead tree in beech maple forest" and on "dead trees in deep woods," respectively. In the mountainous regions of Virginia and North Carolina, I have never taken a mature specimen of D. tenebrosus near bodies of water (where I have done considerable collecting), but have encountered it infrequently in woods under logs and more often in association with houses. Although I have collected males and females in basements, most such specimens have been brought to me by excited homeowners who have also found them in basements, kitchens, and, in one case, the bedroom. Comments by Bishop (1924), Kaston (1948), and Gertsch (personal communication) confirm that the relative freedom from the aquatic habitat is a distinct feature of the natural history of this species.
Dolomedes tenebrosus, the dark fishing spider, is a spider in the family Pisauridae. It inhabits wetlands and moist forests in northeastern North America (Carico 1973). This is one of the largest spiders in the region. Females are larger than males. They are 15-40 mm in length and their slender legs can be up to 100 mm long (Gaddy 2009). Individuals can often be found on tree trunks or logs near ponds and streams. Like other fishing spiders they may venture out on the water surface to catch insects, and there are even reports that they occasionally prey on small fish (Barbour 1921). But this species is not restricted to aquatic habitats. It also occurs in hardwood forests quite a distance away from any body of water (Carico 1973, Gaddy 2009). While these spiders can often be seen at any time of the day, they are most active at night. The best places to find them during the day are tree cavities and crevices in stumps and logs (Gaddy 2009).
Dolomedes tenebrosus or dark fishing spider is a fishing spider found in the United States and Canada.[1][2]
It is able to bite humans but will run from people. In most cases, the bite is no more severe than a bee or wasp sting.[3]
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Female bodies are 15–26 mm; males are 7–13 mm. Legs range from 50–90 mm. The spider is a pale to dark brown colour with several chevron markers and lighter stripes around its legs. It is similar to D. scriptus.[2] The legs are banded with brown/black annulations on the femora and reddish-brown/black annulations on the tibia.[3]
They are found in wooded areas and dwell on trees.[3]
Dolomedes tenebrosus or dark fishing spider is a fishing spider found in the United States and Canada.
It is able to bite humans but will run from people. In most cases, the bite is no more severe than a bee or wasp sting.
