Dark fishing spider (Dolomedes tenebrosus)

Not in any medically significant way. Like almost all spiders the dark fishing spider (family Pisauridae) has venom for its prey, but it is not a widow or recluse, the two U.S. groups whose bites need medical attention.

Records are spread over 36 states; the top three, Virginia, Ohio and Maryland, hold 33% of them.

Across the U.S., observation records of the dark fishing spider run mostly March through November, peaking in May with 17% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 6% of them.

Observation records run through most of the year in Louisiana, Texas and Virginia. Among states whose main season falls within one calendar year, it starts earliest in February (Delaware and Tennessee) and latest in May (Maine, Minnesota and Wisconsin). The most common peak month is May, shared by Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts and 6 more.

Virginia holds 480 licensed records, the 2nd most recorded of 176 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Virginia run through most of the year, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Loudoun County and Arlington County. Next come Accomack County (14) and Prince William County (13).

Ohio holds 227 licensed records, the 4th most recorded of 332 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Ohio run mostly April through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Summit County, Franklin County and Clermont County. Next come Erie County (16) and Cuyahoga County (13).

Maryland holds 225 licensed records, the 4th most recorded of 153 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Maryland run mostly March through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Montgomery County, Baltimore County and Prince George's County. Next come Howard County (28) and Frederick County (26).

New York holds 215 licensed records, the 4th most recorded of 149 spiders listed there. Its observation records in New York run mostly April through October, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Tompkins County, Onondaga County and Ulster County. Next come Rockland County (13) and Westchester County (9).

Pennsylvania holds 176 licensed records, the 7th most recorded of 164 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Pennsylvania run mostly March through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Westmoreland County, Allegheny County and Philadelphia County. Next come Centre County (9) and Lancaster County (7).

North Carolina holds 124 licensed records, the 14th most recorded of 184 spiders listed there. Its observation records in North Carolina run mostly April through November, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Orange County, Chatham County and Wake County. Next come Buncombe County (5) and Durham County (5).

Minnesota holds 119 licensed records, the 4th most recorded of 145 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Minnesota run mostly May through October, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Lake County, Hennepin County and Cook County. Next come Anoka County (12) and St. Louis County (10).

Indiana holds 102 licensed records, the 8th most recorded of 133 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Indiana run mostly March through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Monroe County, LaPorte County and Marion County. Next come Morgan County (8) and Vermillion County (8).

Texas holds 96 licensed records, the joint 61st most recorded of 386 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Texas run through most of the year, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Tarrant County, Jasper County and Harris County. Next come Harrison County (6) and Dallas County (6).

Illinois holds 93 licensed records, the 35th most recorded of 243 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Illinois run mostly March through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Cook County, Will County and Peoria County. Next come Union County (8) and LaSalle County (7).

Tennessee holds 86 licensed records, the 9th most recorded of 138 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Tennessee run mostly February through October, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Montgomery County, Sevier County and Cheatham County. Next come Davidson County (7) and Marion County (6).

Kentucky holds 82 licensed records, the 2nd most recorded of 103 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Kentucky run mostly March through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Madison County, Shelby County and Powell County. Next come Campbell County (5) and Edmonson County (5).

Michigan holds 76 licensed records, the 6th most recorded of 122 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Michigan run mostly April through October, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Washtenaw County, Berrien County and Keweenaw County. Next come Chippewa County (4) and Cheboygan County (3).

New Hampshire holds 67 licensed records, the 3rd most recorded of 72 spiders listed there. Its observation records in New Hampshire run mostly April through September, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Hillsborough County, Grafton County and Sullivan County. Next come Merrimack County (5) and Rockingham County (4).

New Jersey holds 61 licensed records, the 7th most recorded of 127 spiders listed there. Its observation records in New Jersey run mostly March through November, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Middlesex County, Burlington County and Sussex County. Next come Camden County (5) and Atlantic County (4).

Vermont holds 59 licensed records, the 6th most recorded of 74 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Vermont run mostly April through September, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Chittenden County, Windsor County and Washington County. Next come Rutland County (2) and Windham County (2).

Wisconsin holds 54 licensed records, the joint 10th most recorded of 149 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Wisconsin run mostly May through October, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Door County, Sauk County and Grant County. Next come Dane County (3) and Dunn County (3).

Massachusetts holds 51 licensed records, the 24th most recorded of 189 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Massachusetts run mostly April through September, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Bristol County, Essex County and Middlesex County. Next come Hampden County (7) and Norfolk County (6).

Missouri holds 51 licensed records, the 10th most recorded of 117 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Missouri run mostly March through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Texas County, Dent County and Warren County. Next come Callaway County (3) and Lincoln County (3).

Connecticut holds 48 licensed records, the 4th most recorded of 86 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Connecticut run mostly April through September, peaking in June; most licensed records come from New Haven County, Hartford County and Tolland County. Next come Middlesex County (4) and Litchfield County (3).

Delaware holds 43 licensed records, the 13th most recorded of 71 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Delaware run mostly February through September, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Sussex County, Kent County and New Castle County.

Georgia holds 40 licensed records, the joint 36th most recorded of 186 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Georgia run mostly March through November, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Clarke County, Gwinnett County and Newton County. Next come Towns County (2) and White County (2).

Arkansas holds 35 licensed records, the joint 9th most recorded of 114 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Arkansas run mostly September through May, peaking in December; most licensed records come from Craighead County, Benton County and Mississippi County. Next come Poinsett County (3) and Polk County (2).

Louisiana holds 35 licensed records, the joint 22nd most recorded of 107 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Louisiana run through most of the year, peaking in May; most licensed records come from East Baton Rouge Parish, West Feliciana Parish and Iberville Parish. Next come Evangeline Parish (1) and Lincoln Parish (1).

Maine holds 34 licensed records, the joint 5th most recorded of 297 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Maine run mostly May through September, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Oxford County, Somerset County and Cumberland County. Next come Kennebec County (3) and Lincoln County (3).

Most of what is known about the dark fishing spider is recent: 93% of dated U.S. records were made in 2017–2026, and half date from 2023 or later. The oldest dated record is from 1904; the busiest year was 2025, with 494 records.

Of the 344 counties where the dark fishing spider is most recorded, 215 are also top counties for the nursery web spider, more than for any other spider. None of its closest neighbors is venomous.

Other species of the genus Dolomedes with profiles here: Sixspotted fishing spider, White-banded fishing spider, Dock spider and Banded fishing spider.