Dolomedes okefinokensis Bishop, 1924

Okefenokee Fishing Spider

Florida native

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These fishing spiders are found in swampy areas mainly in the Florida peninsula. They also range into the panhandle and south Georgia.
The female Okefenokee Fishing Spider may be the largest of the Dolomedes species with a body length reaching 3cm (1-3/16 in.). The body is brown or gray with black markings, including black "W"s with partial white outlines on the abdomen. Legs are usually banded brown and black.
The diet consists primarily of aquatic insects, although they are known to also feed on tadpoles, small frogs and small fish.
Very similar in appearance to the dark fishing spider (Dolomedes tenebrosus), which is found farther north and only slightly ranges into Florida.

Dolomedes okefinokensis is a member of the Pisauridae - Nursery web spiders family.

Other species of the Dolomedes genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
  Dolomedes triton - SIXSPOTTED FISHING SPIDER

iNaturalist profile for this species

For more information on this species, visit the following link:
Bugguide.net page for this species

Date record last modified: Jan 07, 2024