Dolomedes albineus
(White-banded Fishing Spider)

Picture ID 10572

Submitted by:
bms16323
Submitted: Apr 25, 2018
Photographed: Apr 25, 2018
Spider: Dolomedes albineus (White-banded Fishing Spider)
Location: Franklin, Pennsylvania, United States
Spotted Outdoors: Man-made structure (building wall, fences, etc.)
Found in web?: No
Attributes: Dorsal

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BMS16323

Photo Owner

April 25, 2018 8:45 pm

Found this today and would like some help on ID. My wife found him/her. I think it’s smiling. Lol. In all seriousness, just want to know and seek assurances not poisonous.

ItsyBitsy

Moderator

April 26, 2018 12:07 am

Hi, welcome to Spider ID. 🙂 This looks like a White-banded Fishing Spider, Dolomedes albineus. Like most spiders they have venom but are not considered to be medically significant. Everyone’s immune system is different though.

BMS16323

Photo Owner

Reply to ItsyBitsy

April 26, 2018 5:54 am

ItsyBitsy, Thank you! My wife and I thought that’s what it was, but it has some similarities to the Wolf Spider, so we were not sure. We think the Wolf is smaller though.

ItsyBitsy

Moderator

Reply to BMS16323

April 26, 2018 7:58 am

I’m looking at the placement of the eyes and patterns on the spider’s back. The Carolina Wolf Spider (Hogna carolinensis) is a Wolf Spider (Lycosidae) in range that can be similarly large, even bigger.
https://bugguide.net/node/view/654083/bgimage

BMS16323

Photo Owner

Reply to ItsyBitsy

April 26, 2018 6:06 pm

So, do you think this is a Fishing Spider or Carolina Wolf Spider?

ItsyBitsy

Moderator

Reply to BMS16323

April 26, 2018 8:41 pm

This is a Fishing Spider (Pisauridae, Dolomedes albineus), the ID is above the image. I was just saying you can’t always distinguish between the two by size because you mentioned you thought a Wolf Spider (Lycosidae) would be smaller.

BugmanDan

April 26, 2018 10:48 pm

Hi, while I agree with D. albineus, I had them in Florida, up close and personal.
Fishing spiders are very often mistaken with wolf spiders. I have also been up close and personal with carolina wolf spiders, and few of those, significantly larger than white banded fishing spiders or dark fishing spiders. The largest I have seen is the raft spider/giant swamp spider, the Dolomedes okifenokensis, estimated 6 inches across the legs. Largest wolf spider, 4 inch legspan,and about the largest white banded, just over 3 inches. Intimidating, but all gentle giants.
https://bugguide.net/node/view/171880
https://bugguide.net/node/view/577443
http://www.petbugs.com/caresheets/gallery/H-carolinensis.jpg