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Photo#209689
Big Boy - Dolomedes tenebrosus

Big Boy - Dolomedes tenebrosus
Catonsville, Baltimore County, Maryland, USA
August 2, 2008
Size: 4-5 Inches Across
I found this spider hiding in the frame of a small glass slat window of my monther-in-law's greenhouse. I tried to coax it out of hiding with a small branch so I could get a better look and it seemed quite aggressive. It stayed in the corner of the window frame all day, but when night fell, it came out and sat in plain view on the side of the greenhouse. Two of the pictures were taken between 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM. The following morning I came out to look for it in its hiding spot but I didn't see it anywhere around.

Images of this individual: tag all
Big Boy - Dolomedes tenebrosus Big Boy - Dolomedes tenebrosus Big Boy - Dolomedes tenebrosus

Moved
Moved from Fishing Spiders.

Moved
Moved from Spiders.

Dolomedes tenebrosus
Looks like an adult female Fishing Spider (Dolomedes tenebrosus). These spiders are harmless and actually quite beneficial because they consume pests such as cockroaches. They are also usually very passive and non-aggressive (Unless they're being poked by a branch, which I imagine would make anyone a bit ill).

Here's a link to the Guide page if you would like to compare:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/2011/bgimage

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