Fishing or Water Spider

Description:

Dark spiders with white (males) or orange (females) band on the edge of the head (carapace) and dark body and legs with some white flecks. Males and females are similar in size. Length: Legs span up to 70mm.

Habitat:

Hunts beside the water, diving for small fish and insects. Although not the same family as the European Water Spider that builds a bell of air in its underwater web, Dolomedes is quite capable of diving and running across the bottom and remaining there for up to at least one hour. Main prey are fish, tadpoles, aquatic insects including moths and possibly toads, but that has not been confirmed.