The Raft Spider is a large, rich chocolate-brown spider, with a pale yellow stripe running down each side of the body. It is a chunky spider that lives around the edge of ponds and swamps. Adults sit at the edge of the water, or on floating vegetation, with their front legs resting on the water’s surface in order to feel for the vibrations of potential prey. Using the surface tension of the water, they chase out onto the water to catch their prey, which will even include tadpoles or small fish. Raft Spiders will also swim underwater, often diving beneath the surface when threatened.

For a site established to promote the understanding and conservation of one of Europe’s largest, most beautiful but least common species of spider, Dolomedes plantarius , please visit:

http://www.dolomedes.org.uk