New Member, Saw Strange Spider

I have been reading through previous posts reguarding "sightings" and I haven't been able to answer my own question. So here goes.

My husband and I recently moved to central Pennsylvania. Yesterday morning I decided to take a walk and explore our new neighborhood (we live in a small development). At the end of our road is a small creek. Several areas along the creek have cement banks (if it wasn't cement it would look natural).

Anyway, I am very into animals, I have "several" : ) at home... so I decided to check out the area and see how lively the creek was. I found a spot on the cement part of the bank (the grass is scattered with duck droppings). And sat down to enjoy the sun and scenery.

I grew up in the country/woods, so I know to keep an eye out. I kept glancing around me, but I got lost watching the ducks up stream. I just happened to look down (I was sitting cross-legged) and about 2 inches from my foot was a fairly large brown and black spider. My first reaction was to pull back, and of course its first reaction was to scurry back under the edge of the cement ledge (which also meant it went towards the water).

I can see this animal vividly in my mind and I can only describe it as a medium sized trantula. It was approximately 2 - 3 inches around (circumference).

If anyone has any ideas on what this might be, or any questions please email me at amandabrim@yahoo.com - Thank you.

Sincerely,
Amanda

Contributed by Amanda on 13 September, 2005 - 8:43pm

Not much new to add...

Question: Did you see a web, or was there a web near where you saw it disappear to... if so, what did the web look like? (not to worry, whatever the species of spider, it is not dangerous to people, so it won't jump out at you). Knowing this could narrow the list of potential suspects.

Here are some guide links to the specific types of spiders listed above. Maybe one will be a close match (which might help you):
Fishing Spider
Wolf Spider
Grass Spider

Unfortunately, many of these spiders can/do look similar, but there might be one image that possibly IDs it for you, or you may never know until you see it again (but like Lynette suggested, armed with a camera) :)

(My vote is for a Dolomedes spp. fishing spider...)

… Christopher Hunt, 13 September, 2005 - 11:56pm

Other possibilities

Yes, I agree it sounds like a wolf spider, fishing spider, or maybe a grass spider. Legs included they can all get to the size you describe. I'm sure there are other possibilities as well. Guess next time you'll have to take your camera? ;)

… Lynette Elliott, 13 September, 2005 - 9:20pm

Wolf spider

Sounds to me like some kind of wolf spider

… Christopher C Wirth, 13 September, 2005 - 8:51pm

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