fen raft spider
Address:
Europe
, US
Category: Endangered Species
The fen raft spider, Dolomedes plantarius , is one of two species of the genus Dolomedes (fam. Pisauridae), that live in Europe. It is a large species, with adult females reaching body lengths of up to 23mm, spanning 7cm including their legs. Most individuals are also strikingly marked, with black or brown bodies and white or cream stripes along the sides of the cephalothorax and abdomen.
The species is essentially aquatic, inhabiting lowland wetland and fen areas and depending on a constant supply of neutral to alkaline water at each stage of its life.
