I am in Virginia for meetings at the office this week, and during lunch yesterday I went down to the little industrial estate pond at the edge of our parking lot. There were six species of dragonflies, including a lot of really fresh looking female Eastern Pondhawks (and a Belted Kingfisher!), but the highlight was this spider. According the wiki on the subject, Six-spotted Fishing Spiders should have been common just about everywhere I have lived or visited in North America, but I am certain this is the first one I have ever seen…or at least the first one I have ever looked at. They walk on water, but they live along the shore. This one is hunting. Apparently they will sit like this on the shore or over water, for hours, waiting for prey to come within reach. They can dive under a few inches as well. They are looking for tadpoles, invertebrates, and the occasional small minnow. Hence the name.

The striking pattern and large size (as big as a common Garden Spider) makes them easy to identify (once you actually look at one). I think it could be my best spider to date!

Canon SX40HS. Program with iContrast and –1 EV exposure compensation.  1680mm equivalent field of view. f5.8 @ 1/640th @ ISO 400. Processed in Lightroom for intensity, clarity, and sharpness.