Rule #1 of spider hunting: never let them out of your sight!

For those posting that they think it's a wolf spider...I had no idea those got that big.

Don't kill it man, Mars is right.

What part of the world are you in anyway? Might help us determine the species.

Thought that glinty red thing was the top of the police car responding to the 911 call.

Those guys don't do 'put up a web and wait' - quite often they run their prey down. They get that big, it's 'cause they eat big bugs - lots of them.

You got your choice - one (admittedly freakin' big) spider or a whole lotta big bugs.

Having said that, I'd want that outside. The big ones near us tend to be fast and more than a little jumpy. My wife would freak but I'm not sure the kids would. I think the pets would cry havoc and set forth the 'cats of war' if it got to ground level.

Best,

Joel

I'll be damned! You snagged a photo of my sister-in-law!

quote:

Originally posted by SirelkJaeger:
IT'S GOT A LASER BEAM ON IT'S FREAKIN HEAD!

I was hoping I'd be the first to see that.....
lol

I'd stay away also. Thos freakin' laser beams on their freakin' heads....are wicked dangerous. Best you just move along and pretend he isn't going to eat your brains in your sleep.

Good luck.

I say sell the house and move.

Still no sign of the nasty creature! We are in North Florida near the intracoastal. Swampy behind the house. We think it is a fishing spider, but we are still not sure. It is still consuming about 50% of the talk around my house!!! We know he is out on that patio somewhere! I'm going to have my wife clear the grill area before I go out there tomorrow to bbq!

A month or so ago I posted a picture of a spider about that size that I found in my basement! YIKES! I'm same as you - I kill every spider I see...gross creatures.

quote:

Originally posted by kurtiss:
I'm going to have my wife clear the grill area before I go out there tomorrow to bbq!

Now that made me laugh - you've got a keeper if she's got you covered for that little foray.

That would make a cool pet...

I think it might be a Dolomedes species. I came across this bruiser in June in SW Pennsylvania:


The rock it was on was located in the middle of a trout stream I was fishing. It walked on water to get there and was fishing too...

http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/spider/nurseryWebSpiders.htm

quote:

Originally posted by Greg R:
I think it might be a Dolomedes species. I came across this bruiser in June in SW Pennsylvania:


The rock it was on was located in the middle of a trout stream I was fishing. It walked on water to get there and was fishing too...

http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/spider/nurseryWebSpiders.htm

Great picture as well!

I've said it befor and I will say it again

Nuke it from orbit, its the only way to be sure. Regards 18DAI.

I think that it is some kind of wolf spider as well. I was in the Boundary Waters a few years back canoeing, and my canoe was well ahead of the rest of our group, we beached it at this nice little spot for lunch and I got out. THE BEACH MOVED! there were thousands of wolf spiders the size of my hand that started to run everywhere. Now I am not afraid of a whole lot, but I HAAAAATTTEEE Spiders, and this was my worst nightmare come true, needless to say I ran into the lake screaming like a little girl and just started swimming. I had nightmares for weeks afterwards as it was probably the most horrifying thing I have ever seen

I once had a wolf spider that I coexisted with for several months until it disappeared. It lived in my kitchen (250 year old farmhouse) and just sat there and watched me while I cooked. I never had a problem with it and it also had the added benefit of killing all the mice in my house. The only freaky spider incident I've had was when I visited Mexico. I was swimming in the hotel pool and which was surrounded by a 10 foot hedge. Upon closer inspection I realized that it was full of black widow spiders. Kinda kept away from the pool area after that.

It's hard to judge by the photo but how big do those things get?

Females can reach 8-10" with legs at full growth. Wicked, eh?

quote:

Originally posted by oldfireguy:
It's hard to judge by the photo but how big do those things get?

Which is why he should have put his hand down next to it!

It's a fishing spider for sure, they usually hang out under rocks and foliage during the day, and trees at night.

So chances are he's under your deck.

Now I am going to be creeped out worrying that the thing is in my room.