Dolomedes tenebrosus

• 13 Jun, 2008
• 8 likes

Look what I found today in my tub of potting soil ! This is Dolomedes tenebrosus, or the Fishing Spider. In Europe it's known as the Raft spider. It's quite common here in my yard I think mainly because I have so many little pools and the pond. Last year I was weeding and must have accidentally grabbed a few legs of one and it bit me but I was ok. I would have bitten me too ! I never kill a spider because they're so beneficial. You can barely see the 2 rows of eyes in this pic. It's a large spider, with legs and all it's about the size of your hand (minus fingers).