Critter of the Week: Water Spider aka dolomedes aquaticus

The critter of the week is the water spider, Dolomedes aquaticus! This spider has a special affinity with water, spending most of their time near braided rivers. Dolomedes spiders are also called fishing spiders due to their unique method of capturing prey. They put their legs out in the water like a fishing line, feeling for the tell-tale vibrations of a struggling insect fallen in the water. Once they've honed in on their quarry, they'll quickly pounce to subdue their target. The short velvety hairs covering their body allows them to trap air and walk across the water through surface tension or even go underwater for up to 30 mins!