Have You Ever Seen One of These MASSIVE Spiders in Indiana?

When it comes to spiders in Indiana, I'm sure that you have seen a lot in the past. But have you ever seen one this big in person?

Ask any group of people here in Indiana, and I am sure that most people would admit to having a fear of spiders. Big or small, it doesn't matter. We all know people who legitimately freak out when seeing one. Spiders are the things of nightmares. There are several types of spiders in Indiana that you should certainly be concerned about, such as brown recluses and black widows. However, there's one spider in Indiana that you might see that could probably scare you even more than those just based on its size alone!

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That's a BIG Spider!

Now, I'll admit that I don't have a fear of spiders (snakes, on the other hand, that's a different story). However, if I were to encounter one of these spiders in person, I imagine that I would freak out.

The Indiana spider that I am talking about is the Fishing Spider. Ever heard of it? More importantly, have you ever seen one before? These things are MASSIVE!

They are also known as fishing spiders, raft spiders, dock spiders or wharf spiders. You won’t typically find them in your home unless you’ve got a wooded lake or pond nearby. Fishing spiders are venomous, but their bites do not harm humans.

According to AZ Animals:

<p>The six-spotted fishing spider is one of the biggest spiders in Indiana, but it has some competition at the 3-inch legspan measurement. Nevertheless, this is a very big spider that can be frightening should it suddenly appear next to someone fishing on a dock.</p><p>These spiders spent most of their time in, on, or near the water. They can run along the surface of the water to grab unsuspecting aquatic creatures, including small fish and tadpoles. These spiders can even dive below the surface to get prey or get away from <a href="https://a-z-animals.com/blog/spider-predators/" data-lasso-id="979504">predators</a>.</p>

The biggest fishing spider caught in Indiana on record was found in Elkhart in 2018. This thing had a six-inch leg span! Check it out:

As an avid fisherman in Indiana, I am beyond grateful that I have never come across one of these...especially while on my kayak. Have you ever encountered one of these massive fishing spiders in Indiana before?

Animals You Might Encounter in The Wild in Indiana

There is no shortage of stunning wildlife in Indiana. Here are six species native to the state that you might encounter the next time you head outside.

7 Invasive Insects in Indiana You Should Kill Immediately If You See Them

In an effort to inform the public on the types of invasive species that are known to be found in their state, the USDA offers a "Pest Tracker" on their website, where you simply click the name of your state from the drop-down menu provided to see pictures of the different insects and weeds, along with descriptions of the type of plant life they target and the damage they can do if they're not dealt with.