White-banded Fishing Spider, Tree Fishing Spider
Dolomedes albineus
Pisauridae (Nursery Web Spiders), Order Araneae
Physical Description
Robust body with a large oval abdomen and broad cephalothorax, covered in dense, velvety pubescence (hairs) that provide exceptional camouflage against tree bark. Females are noticeably larger than males.
Size Estimate
Body length ranges from 15 to 26 mm for females, with a massive leg span that can reach up to 7 to 8 cm.
Coloration & Markings
Predominantly pale gray, white, and mottled brown coloration, creating a lichen-like camouflage pattern with distinctive white bands across the legs and margins of the cephalothorax.
Web Type
Does not build a web to catch prey. Females construct silken nursery webs in vegetation when protecting their egg sacs.
Eye Arrangement
Eight eyes arranged in two curved rows, typical of Pisauridae, with the anterior row slightly smaller than the posterior row.
Leg Characteristics
Long, powerful legs held spread out laterally in a crab-like or flattened posture to maximize surface contact and distribute weight, featuring distinct dark and light banding.
Venom & Safety Information
Venom Information
Contains neurotoxic components typical of large wandering spiders, primarily used to immobilize invertebrate prey rapidly.
Medical Significance
Not medically significant to humans. A bite may cause localized pain, redness, and swelling similar to a bee sting, but they are reluctant to bite unless heavily provoked or trapped.
Safety Recommendations
Observe from a distance. If found indoors, gently guide the spider into a container using a piece of cardboard and release it outdoors in a wooded area.
Habitat & Behavior
Habitat & Range
Found primarily in the southeastern United States, typically inhabiting wooded areas near swamps, streams, and lakes, frequently resting on tree trunks rather than directly on water.
Behavior & Temperament
Active nocturnal hunter with arboreal tendencies. Skittish and fast-moving, preferring to flee or retreat around a tree trunk rather than confront threats.
Diet & Prey
Generalist predator feeding on insects, other spiders, and occasionally small aquatic vertebrates like tadpoles or small fish by detecting surface vibrations.
Seasonal Activity
Most active during the warm spring and summer months, mating in late spring, and overwintering as juveniles under loose bark or in tree crevices.
Description
The White-banded Fishing Spider is a striking arboreal wanderer known for its remarkable lichen-like camouflage that allows it to blend seamlessly into tree bark. Despite its common name linking it to fishing spiders, this species spends a significant amount of time on trees rather than strictly aquatic habitats.
Key Features
Heavy-bodied build, pale gray and white mottled coloration mimicking lichen, distinctly banded legs, and an arboreal habit of resting flat against tree trunks.
Similar Species
Other Dolomedes species such as Dolomedes tenebrosus, which tends to be darker and more brownish, and wolf spiders (Lycosidae), which carry their egg sacs attached to their spinnerets instead of in their jaws.
Life Cycle
Females carry egg sacs in their jaws until near hatching, then construct a tent-like nursery web in foliage, standing guard until the spiderlings disperse after their first molt.
Ecological Importance
Acts as an important apex invertebrate predator in riparian and woodland ecosystems, helping regulate insect populations.
Conservation Status
Not evaluated by the IUCN, but populations are generally stable across its native southeastern North American range.
Interesting Facts
Despite being called fishing spiders, members of this genus can walk on water using surface tension and can even dive beneath the surface to escape predators or hunt.
Photography Tips
Use a macro lens with a fast shutter speed to capture details of the leg banding and cephalothorax patterns while maintaining a safe, non-disturbing distance.
Identified: 2026-07-28T22:21:21.642378