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Comments & ID Thoughts
Not sure exactly what I've found here. But probably one of the biggest spiders I've come across in Kentucky. I've looked through hundreds of photos trying to match up the markings and I can't seem to find anything! I was thinking something in the Wolf spider family - but just don't know. Any help would be appreciated.
- Submitted by:
- Submitted: Nov 22, 2022
- Photographed: Nov 22, 2022
- Spider: Unidentified
- Location: Somerset, Kentucky, United States
- Spotted Indoors: Other
- Found in web?: No
- Attributes:
I should add with it’s legs extended I would say it’s 4-5″ in diameter.
I think this is a beautiful dark fishing spider – Dolomedes tenebrosus – Because of the orange bands on its legs and its dark moustasce. They are harmless – https://spiderid.com/picture/16056/ They are the biggest spiders in North America
I believe this may be Dolomedes vittatus…
You could very well be right – I’m out of practice ๐
Thanks! Hey, you are still the most knowledgeable when it revolves around araneology
My guess is Dolomedes tenebrosus due to the orangey color of the legs. The posterior “W” shapes rule out D. vittatus. It’s quite cute.
Catfishpaladin, the way we can tell it is a Fishing Spider, not Wolf, is the pointy posterior and the low-slung stance. These spiders are great at clinging to verticals. Wolf Spiders are more top-heavy and can’t cling to upright surfaces. The “Wolf Spiders don’t climb” thing was how I was taught to tell them apart. ๐
You may be right https://bugguide.net/node/view/854370 Dolomede vittatus – W’s on posterior abdomen (above link) https://spiderid.com/spider/pisauridae/dolomedes/tenebrosus/ Dolomedes tenebrosus (above link) with common cross shape on back (multiple pics). This threads photo of the Dolomedes at the top doesnt have the cross like shape. I believe the orange on the above Dolomedes done by the poster is just another Variety within the Dolomedes genre – which could be present on any species in Dolomedes. Or it could be a reversion to an earlier form within the genre (take this lightly). Ive seen species of the same spider (including Flowers), that have a… Read more ยป