Dolomedes tenebrosus

Dolomedes tenebrosus, known as the dark fishing spider, is a species of fishing spider found in the United States and Canada.^[1][2] Despite belonging to Dolomedes, it is better described as a "tree-dwelling spider".^[3]

Dark fishing spider
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Dolomedidae
Genus:	Dolomedes
Species:	D. tenebrosus
Binomial name
Dolomedes tenebrosus (Hentz, 1844)[1]
Synonyms
D. idoneus Montgomery, 1902 D. vernalis Emerton, 1909

Description

Female found under a log pile in Ohio, USA

Eye arrangement

Females are 15–26 millimetres (0.59–1.02 in) (excluding legs); and males are 7–13 millimetres (0.28–0.51 in). Leg lengths range from 50–90 millimetres (2.0–3.5 in). The spider is a pale to dark brown colour with several chevron markers and lighter stripes around its legs, 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] During copulation, females of the species practice sexual cannibalism on their male counterparts. Research shows that the males' self-sacrifice through consumption by the female increases the chance of survivorship of future offspring.^[4]

Habitat

They are found in wooded areas and dwell on trees. It will commonly enter homes in wooded locations.^[3]

Bite

It is capable of biting humans, but typically flees "at the slightest movement". In most cases, the bite is no more severe than a bee or wasp sting. Those sensitive to spider venom may be at risk. ^[3]