Are there other kinds of water spiders?

[Susie]

A friend has asked me to help identify a photograph of a spider a friend of hers has sent her. It looks to me to be a woodlouse spider but it lives in a water butt and skates around on the surface.

So, my question is, do other types of spider skate across the tops of water in the way that pond skaters do?

Thanks.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Susie

A friend has asked me to help identify a photograph of a spider a friend of hers has sent her. It looks to me to be a woodlouse spider but it lives in a water butt and skates around on the surface.

So, my question is, do other types of spider skate across the tops of water in the way that pond skaters do?

Thanks.

Both wolf spiders and raft spiders often do this.

[Susie]

Thanks, Dogghound.

Do woodlouse spiders?

[Matt Smith]

Originally Posted by Susie

Thanks, Dogghound.

Do woodlouse spiders?

No - they live under logs or in cracks in walls - places where woodlice go.

[Susie]

Here's the photo of it. Apparently it lives in the water butt and swims on the surface.

[Dogghound]

Think its Clubionidae or Gnaphosidae definitely not Dysderidae.

[Wild-Woman]

Doesn't look like a woodlouse spider to me. It's not baked-beany enough!

[Susie]

Many thanks, Dogghound. I'm grateful. That's something

Lol. I know Jules, but my spider knowledge is very limited. It's only house spider, woodlouse spider, garden spider, the one with the long legs that stick out, wasp spider, and the false widows. Anything else and I'm stumped! lol.

[Pepsis]

It's a Gnaphosidae, most definitely Drassodes.

[Susie]

Many thanks, Pepsis, I am grateful for the ID

Thank you to everyone who has offered help on this thread.