Dark Fishing Spider

The Dark Fishing Spider (Dolomedes tenebrosus), belongs to the nursery web spider family Pisauridae. These spiders are widespread throughout much of the central and eastern United States as well as Canada, including New Jersey. Female adults can grow to a maximum length of 2.5 cm. Males, on the other hand, are often only about half that size. Their legs are covered in dark patches and spines, and they have a primarily light brown appearance. Usually, you may recognize them by the distinctive dark W-shaped marks on their belly.

Spiders that hunt at night do not construct webs to capture their prey. Instead, they catch insects and even small fish from the water by using their long legs as fishing lures. Additionally, they have the ability to swim under the water to locate food or run briefly across the water's surface. While they can bite humans, they usually run from people, and their bite is not medically significant.