Please identify this HUGE spider

13 years ago

I have seen this spider outside on my covered back porch for a couple weeks now. I live in central Alabama. I don't see a web for this spider, and today I caught it hanging out on my window. Can anyone identify it?

Image link:

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (14)

shn02al
Original Author
13 years ago
Also, those are 2" blinds in the pic...so the spider is between 5" to 6".
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
13 years ago
With those long legs, probably one of the huntsman spiders. You can't really use the slats in your blinds as a measuring unit. That would only be accurate if the spider were sitting ON the slats, not away from them. These spiders are BIG, but not (ever) that big, thank goodness.
Related Discussions
easier for me to identify this spider than this flower
Q
Comments (13)
Hey, check this out (from Wikipedia)! I've always just thought of them as not-likely-to-be-dangerous garden spiders. They can be found most everywhere at times including in my goldenrod: "Misumena vatia is a species of crab spider with holarctic distribution. In North America, where it the largest and most well-known flower spider, it is called the Goldenrod crab spider, because it is commonly found hunting in Goldenrod sprays in the autumn. Females can grow up to 10mm (without legs), males reach 5mm at most. Young females in the early summer may be quite small and easily overlooked. These spiders may be yellow or white, depending on the flower in which they are hunting. Especially younger females, which may hunt on a variety of flowers such as daisies and sunflowers, may change color "at will" (aggressive mimicry). Older females require large amounts of relatively large prey to produce the best possible clutch of eggs. They are, therefore, in North America most commonly found in Goldenrod (Solidago sp.), a bright yellow flower which attracts large numbers of insects, especially in autumn. It is often very hard even for a searching human to recognize one of these spiders on a yellow flower."
...See More
Very small Costa Rica striped spider ID please
Q
Comments (1)
Neat looking spider. You may have better luck posting this in the Insect forum.
...See More
Please help me identify this plant - huge sentimental value!
Q
Comments (10)
Oh, thank you so much - it DOES look like it might be Sedum Spectabile based on the leaves. The ones in planters at my grandparents' site did not have those pink purple flowers but they did have some very small, green and crude ones that were just beginning to bloom. I have it now in that pot. Should I slowly take the pot out to get it acclimated with the outside? My grandparents' place is in Eastern Europe (close to the Black Sea). Hot dry summers, cold, snowy winters - 4 seasons, classic continental climate. Here I am in the South, Atlanta area. Can this plant make it in this small pot I planted it in? If it goes well, I can transplant it later in something larger. What does it need in terms of water, sun and fertilizer? Thank yo so much!
...See More
Need help identifying bugs / spider?!
Q
Comments (0)
I have been growing sweet peas on my balcony and a few days ago noticed this strange looking spider thing sitting on its egg! Have now realised there are loads of tiny little green things on other parts of same plant. Have tried looking closely and they don't look as though they have wings, there are also 3 or 4 empty egg sacs around leaves so I am wondering if they are babies of the spider thing?? Have looked at the spider, it definitely has 8 legs but can't find anything that looks like it on Google pics! Please can anyone help identifying what these are and how I can fix this problem? Thank you.
...See More
lazy_gardens
13 years ago
Impressive, and have a painful bite, but not a very poisonous bite. They eat bugs and aren't aggressive.
bulldinkie
13 years ago
looks like the brown racluse not sure of spelling.And they do bite.A girl at dialysis got bit they had to remove a large piece from her leg.When youre bit the flesh dies around the bite.
danetherton
13 years ago
No, it is not a Brown Recluse. They are very different. Look them up on Bugguide.net or on Wikipedia. Unfortunately, to some folks, any spider is a Brown Recluse. I hate to contradict you, but there it is.
This is likely a Fishing Spider or Nursery Web Spider. Certainly not a Brown Recluse.
LivingInOz
13 years ago
Definitely not a brown recluse - how about a Wolf Spider?
Ynnis
12 years ago
It looks like it belongs to the family of wolf spiders because it is very hairy.
davec426913
12 years ago
Scale please? Forget the slats. How long IS it by estimation?
lizzie_nh
12 years ago
Remind me to NEVER go to Alabama.
shirleyt59
12 years ago
wolf spiders dont have legs that are that long. really looks like a wandering spider.
FOX3
11 years ago
It very well could be of the Family Diguetidae - Desertshrub Spiders

Here is a link that might be useful: Bugnet
S.A.McKenzie
11 years ago
Danetherton is the only one who's got it in the ballpark. This is one of the Dolomedes genus, also known as "Fishing" or "Dock" spiders, and they are in the Pisauridae family, which includes the Nursery Web Spiders. Based on the light-colored cephlathorax, the geographic range and the size, it's most likely a large female Dolomedes albineus, or White-Banded Fishing Spider. While a bite would hurt, these are not medically-significant in terms of venom and are not aggressive at all. I have caught related species, D. tenebrosus and D. triton, in fishing nets and handled them without incident, even though the former were as large as my hand, and I've also kept D.okefinokensis in captivity, again, without any sign of aggression or threat display. The position of this spider's legs is highly typical of all Pisauridae spiders and sets it apart from Lycosids(Wolf Spiders)and Sparassidae(Huntsmen). It bears absolutely no resemblance whatsoever to any of the Recluse species, which are certainly not capable of attaining legspans of 5-6 inches!

Here is a link that might be useful: Dolomedes albineus
danetherton
11 years ago
Thanks McKenzie. I am a Naturalist, but my specialties run to Botany, Herpetology and general Field Biology, and I am rather weak on Entomology and Arachnology. I have, though, seen enough spiders to recognize our only (two) venomous spiders, and that was neither.

I am the weirdo that will pet Black Widows, Bumblebees, and terrify people. All about respect...
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
11 years ago
Fox... this is a large spider. And was found in the state of Alabama.

Related Stories

DECORATING GUIDES Knot Again! Macrame Is Back

By Becky Harris

It's happened. A craft that typified 1970s style (the owls, the spider plants!) is back, but better

Full Story

101

ROOTS OF STYLE Clues to Your Home's Architectural History

By Sarah Phipps Design

Use this quick guide to design themes to identify the era and style of your house's details

Full Story

TREES Native Plant Alternatives to Invasive Common Buckthorn

By Pollination Press LLC

Learn how to identify and control this aggressive plant, and what to grow in its place

Full Story

GARDENING FOR BIRDS Backyard Birds: Meet Some Clever and Curious Jays

By Habitat Network

Boisterous jays provide plenty of backyard bird-watching in winter. Here’s how to identify all the varieties and welcome them into your yard

Full Story

DECORATING GUIDES Hot Looks From the Spring 2013 High Point Market

By Pangaea Interior Design, Portland, OR

Get an eyeful of some of the colors, textures, materials and more taking a big stand at North Carolina's huge furnishings trade show

Full Story

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING How to Work With a Landscape Pro

By Lisa Frederick

Lush lawns and gardens don't create themselves. Here's how to work with a landscaping professional for a smooth process and pleasing results

Full Story

ROOM OF THE DAY Room of the Day: New Family Room Goes Big and Bold

By Becky Harris

This addition to a 1920s Connecticut home features beautiful built-ins, graphic color, layers of pattern and pleasing proportions

Full Story

WINE CELLARS 8 Wine Cellars Overflowing With Artful Storage

By Urban Abode

Give your wine collection a high-end home, with a prefab or custom racking system as posh as you please

Full Story

GREEN Color Guide: How to Work With Chartreuse

By Samantha Schoech

As earthy or electric as you please, this yellow-green hue brings the zing or just freshness to homes from traditional to modern

Full Story

104

GARDENING GUIDES Support Bumblebees by Providing Forage in 3 Seasons

By Pollination Press LLC

Bumblebees are fascinating and fun to observe foraging in gardens. Find out how to create a buffet for these fuzzy, charismatic bees

Full Story

Please identify this HUGE spider

Comments (14)

shn02al
Original Author

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

Related Discussions

lazy_gardens

bulldinkie

danetherton

LivingInOz

Ynnis

davec426913

lizzie_nh

shirleyt59

FOX3

S.A.McKenzie

danetherton

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Please identify this HUGE spider

Comments (14)

shn02alOriginal Author

Related Discussions

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

shn02al
Original Author