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Common Fishing Spider

D o l o m e d e s t e n e b ro s u s

Photo by redwoodhsedu
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

"With a leg span of up to four inches (20 cm),
this is one of the largest spiders in Ohio. They
occasionally wander into buildings, particularly
those near woods. The discovery of one of
these huge spiders hanging on a wall or
draped over the edge of a piece of furniture
has caused more than a few people to panic.
Despite their formidable appearance, fishing
spiders are not considered dangerous to
humans. They can bite if handled carelessly,
but the consequences, while painful, are not
serious. The spider is not aggressive and will
retreat if given that option. Outdoors, they are
most commonly found in moist woods, or near
well-vegetated streams. At night they hang
on vertical surfaces, such as the bark of large
trees or wooden posts. Adults may survive the
winter, so large individuals can be found early
in the spring." DNR Field Guide

Habitat:

Wetlands or moist woodlands.

Notes:

This guy was hanging out on the ledge of an earth shelter in the middle of the woods.

Species ID Suggestions

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