I need help to Identify a spider

Hi Lynette, thank you for responding so fast. The white pattern on the back was just like that, and the shape of the spider was the same. I don't think it had the white dots or the white rings on it's legs though. Is it possible it was just an adolescent fishing spider? I had suspected it might have been because I saw one of these at the lake over the summer swimming off a dock we were playing on. The one we saw at the BBQ was a little bit smaller, but definitely resembled this one. The BBQ was also right next to a pool so that would explain it too. Thank you!
Sara

if it didn't have the spots it might be (click on the picture to go to that part of the guide) one of these others. I'm sure there are other possibilities that I'm not thinking of as well.

Hi Lynette, it is most definitely the brown one. What is it? Is it a wolf spider of a fishing spider? Are they common in Massachusetts.
Thank you again for your time.
Sara

and it will take you to Dolomedes striatus. I doubt these are very common (if it's what you saw) because we don't have very many images in the guide.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dolomedes_fimbriatus.jpg

they are all very similar, and I don't understand all the taxonomic changes going on. I think these are the possible species at this time. I'm sure some of these may look exactly alike to the untrained eye & the trained eye for that matter. Some spiders can only be ID'd with the use of a microscope.

Dolomedes albineus Hentz, 1845
Dolomedes fimbriatus (Clerck, 1757)
Dolomedes gertschi Carico, 1973
Dolomedes okefinokensis Bishop, 1924
Dolomedes scriptus Hentz, 1845
Dolomedes striatus Giebel, 1869
Dolomedes tenebrosus Hentz, 1844
Dolomedes triton (Walckenaer, 1837)
Dolomedes vittatus Walckenaer, 1837

Thank you for all your help. Would you believe I have a huge arachnophobia? However, as terrified as I am of them I am equally intrigued. It looks like they are all some sort of water spider which doesn't surprise me since it was near a pool. I guess in a way I am hoping that learning more about them will make this irrational fear just a little less. It is definitely hard to identify them though.
Thank you for your time.
Sara

"However, as terrified as I am of them I am equally intrigued."

That was Step One for me, and it's definitely not a problem anymore. :-)


So yes, education will help immensely. Sooner or later you will probably realize that every bad thing you have ever heard about spiders was somewhere between a gross exaggeration and a total fabrication.

will definitely reduce your fear. I used to be pretty bad, now I'm not afraid at all.

Well, I will be keeping this site handy then for other specimens we find.
Thank you both!
Sara

i think this is a fishing spider.