Water spider

Fact Box Species: Dolomedes instabilis (JS, QM) or a related species Family: Pisauridae Body length: female: 25 mm male: 20 mm Habitat: On the surface of still-water ponds; this spider has the ability to run on water surfaces and to form underwater retreats in large air bubbles, although some pisaurids make their webs in green leaves of shrubs and may never have occasion to 'walk on water' Toxicity: Unknown; may at least cause mild illness in humans

Eye pattern Newly moulted

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Wolf spiders such as Lycosa godeffroyi, although it is noteworthy that water spiders lack the pair of large eyes that characterise lycosids.