I spotted this large spider last Thursday at Occoquan Regional Park perched atop some leafy vegetation and watched as it captured a small moth that made the mistake of landing on the same leaf. The spider assumed a defiant pose when I started to photograph it—obviously it did not want to share its lunch with me—and I captured the first photo as I stared straight into its multiple eyes.
I initially thought that this was a fishing spider because of its large size and overall shape, but I am beginning to wonder if it might actually be a wolf spider. Most of the fishing spiders that I have seen have been in the water and this one was a foot (30 cm) in the air, although it was overhanging the edge of a small stream. I included a shot of its body that shows its markings, in case any of you are expert enough to identify its species.
I know that people have mixed reactions to spiders, but I encourage those of you who do not find them to be totally creepy to click on the first photo. Doing so will allow you so see some wonderful details of the spider, especially its eyes, and the remains of the hapless moth.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Wonderful photos, Mike. I’m usually OK with spiders. The ones we find inside, we capture and relocate outside. I wouldn’t want to find this guy in the shower with me, but outside, over there, would be fine.
I totally understand, Dan. Somehow the sizes of creatures like this are greatly magnified when they are inside our houses. I am all in favor of keeping the spiders and other insects outside of my dwelling places.
I love the detail in these portraits. I live with two arachnaphobes (one of whom is incredibly phobic) but I am fond of spiders. Aside from anything else, I appreciate them snacking on all the more annoying insects, especially the one who like to bite me. My 14 year old is currently obsessed with dock spiders, having just learned about them. Now the family is divided between people who want to see a dock spider in real life and those who absolutely never want to encounter one.
I recall, Laura, that you like spiders, but I don’t think that I knew that some members of your family were arachnaphobes. I did a quick search and learned that dock spiders are another name that is used for the fishing spiders that I really like (although I suspect that the name might be used for multiple species). Fishing spiders are really cool because they sense the vibrations of the water and run across the surface to capture prey.
Yes. We have been loving the idea of them using bubbles so they can glide across water. So cool.
Nice Spider images Mike! Enjoyed seeing them!
I love seeing the pics, in person not so much. The detail with leg hair and the silk coming the rear is pretty cool.
Carol
Thanks. Spider silk is really cool. I remember a few years ago when I saw a spider wrap up a prey in sheets of silk that it extruded from its body. (https://michaelqpowell.com/2014/10/08/wrapping-up-a-meal/)
Great photos. I like spiders, call me strange. They do good service keeping the other bugs away.
Thanks, Suzette. I think that it is good to keep in mind the roles that different creatures play in maintaining our ecological balance.
Exactly 🙂
Very impressive shots. 👏👏👏.
I am not “expert” enough but do know how to snap a shot of this spider and run it by iNaturalist then check on BugGuide and think that it is a six-spotted fishing spider.
https://bugguide.net/node/view/588993
I know it creeps some folks out but I love looking into all eight of those eyes and the way that “mustache” .looks like it should be straining soup just as mine does. 😀
That was my initial thought, Steve, but the body markings don’t quite match those of the other Six-spotted Fishing Spiders that I have photographed in which white spots were visible on the body, like this one. (https://michaelqpowell.com/2018/08/17/fishing-spider-in-august/). Of course, I have learned that quite often nothing is a perfect match for photos on the internet, so it becomes a bit of an educated guess. I too like that I was able to get down low enough get a pretty good look at most of the spider’s eyes.
I did notice the difference but since things can vary a fair amount stayed with that species.
I have learned that quite often my first instincts are right and my first thought was that this was a fishing spider. It is only later that I let doubts creep in and I question my calls. Fortunately I am a photographer, not an entomologist, so I don’t have to worry too much about the accuracy of my identifications. 🙂
Same here although I feel a lot better having a correct ID. Sometimes I won’t post an image until I verify the species.
It is sometimes hard to get help. BugGuide seems to take forever sometimes. I have found that one of the best ways to get a response in the expert forums on Facebook is to misidentify something. Somehow many folks are much more willing to correct you than to give you help. 🙂
Yeah, I have quite a few unidentified species sitting on BG.N. But the experts are all volunteers and, especially during the warmer seasons, are busy with their own projects and research. A friend of mine is one of those volunteers and I know how busy he is. I’ve never tried to purposely mis-ID something but it seems a good ploy. 🙂
🙂
I’m okay with spiders in MOST situations haha. These are great pictures!
Thanks. Recently I have been a bit irritated with spiders, because I keep running into strands of a web with my face as I walk along trails. So I guess that I am with you in liking spiders in most situations.
That is definitely a situation where I don’t like spiders.
🙂
A really interesting spider! Great shots!
Dwight
I’m going to skip the detail, but agree they are great captures, Mike! It is kind of interesting to watch them nab their prey, and I’m pretty sure he would not share with you!
Thanks, Ellen. The moth looked kind of dry, so I am ok with the spider not sharing. 🙂
I’m going to agree with Steve Gingold and his tentative ID as a six-spotted one. I’ve seen fishing spiders in MN and am happy to see another. We have one here in New Zealand, by the way, aptly named Dolomedes aquaticus.
Thanks, Gary. I remember the advice that I was given with taking standardized tests, which was to go with your first instincts. In this case, my first instinct was that this was a fishing spider. I guess that doubts crept in at least partly because this was a fishing spider out of water. 🙂