Posted: 6/16/2012 8:49:39 AM EDT
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Hi All,
Went out to water the garden and came across a rather large spider on the wall next to the spigot... Dark color with almost camo like markings. More purple or blue/black than brown. Overall, it was built like a wolf spider but the abdomen was a little stockier. From leg tip to leg tip it was a good 4" - 5" across. I left it alone. |
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I can't get over the spiders here.
Grew up in NY, where I've seen a couple like this in the wood pile. Lived in PA and NC. I will say, when I moved to NC, I can remember sitting out on the back deck in the summer night drinking a beer and thinking... I had no idea there were so many bugs in the world. But since moving to MD from DC last year... Holy crap, we have nonstop spiders. Mostly small or wolf spiders (which I like) but some of these guys make me not want to go to bed at night. This guy was big. And it was one of those moments when you're fiddling with something and then a minute later your eyes focus on it about 5 inches away from your hand and you step back. Then you come back 5 minutes later and it's gone and you start brushing yourself off because you have no idea where the hell it is. And then it appears close by and you realize it has a life and is mobile and you're not going to kill it because you will fail and then it will come and get you later.................... LOL I need a drink. |
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Most likely a Dolomedes (fishing spider) species. There are very few large native spiders like this.
There are several sub-species, but you can probably find a likeness here:Dolomedes images |
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That's a possibility. It makes sense now because we have zillions of the males around. They are small and look similar to wolf spiders. Kind of have a tan stripe on their back.
This one was a female i guess 
Anyway thanks for the link. I will apply my usual logic and assume that since it's a fishing spider and I love to fish, then it is nice. -Coop |