Dolomedes tenebrosus or dark fishing spider is a fishing spider found in the United States and Canada. It is able to bite humans but will run from people. In most cases, the bite is no more severe than a bee or wasp sting.

Description

Female bodies are 15–26 mm; males are 7–13 mm. Legs range from 50 to 90 mm. The spider is a pale to dark brown colour with several chevron markers and lighter stripes around its legs. It is similar to D. scriptus. The legs are banded with brown/black annulations on the femora and reddish-brown/black annulations on the tibia. During copulation, females of the species practice sexual cannibalism on their male counterparts. Research shows that the males' self-sacrifice through consumption by the female increases the chance of survivorship of future offspring.

Habitat

They are found in wooded areas and dwell on trees.