Not exactly your best fishing buddy, fishing spiders are a regular sight at the dock, wharf or lake during the summer months. You have probably seen them skating over the water’s surface grabbing insects and disappearing again. Hopefully you haven’t seen them in your buildings near the shore of a stream. Here are a few facts about fishing spiders you need to know to prepare for the months ahead.
Known as Dolomedes, these spiders have a distinctive yellow stripe down the back and are covered all over with short, velvety hairs. They seem to “skate” over the water looking for insects to prey on, though they mostly hunt at night and sometimes even take tadpoles or small fish. In some cases, they can hunt below the water, popping to the surface when they get the urge to hunt.
They can also be found on land, though, which makes them something of an “accidental invader.” They don’t necessarily intend to come into the home, but sometimes find their way there, especially if your home is near water. Detecting fishing spiders in a home or small building by the water is difficult without seeing one, because they do not trap their prey with a web. Because they have excellent eyesight and hunt, there are no identifying webs or other features to determine if you have an invasion of fishing spiders. Identification can only be made by spotting one.
While fishing spiders are not more poisonous than any other kind of spider, if you have family members or friends who react to spider bites, you should still take precautions. Controlling these pests is relatively easy, since the males die shortly after mating and the females do not look for buildings in which to set up a colony of spiders. That said, encouraging them to stick to their own habitat is the best idea.
Ways you can reduce the incidence of fishing spiders include monitoring your grassy areas. When fishing spiders do not eat on the water, they come into overgrown grassy areas to pursue insects and feed. Keeping overgrown areas under control has the benefit of reducing other kinds of pests as well, such as ticks. It is fairly easy to trap these pests and put them back in their natural habitat, but if you are dealing with more than one, it can be difficult to do by yourself. Add to the fact that these insects are nocturnal hunters, and you reduce your chances of ever spotting one in action.
Other important notes about fishing spiders include the fact that they are more likely to accidentally invade your home when fall is approaching and they begin to look for better protection from the weather. When the weather turns rainy, fishing spiders are more likely to reproduce, making spotting one easier. If you want help controlling this or any other pest, please contact your local pest control experts.