Pest Library

Characteristics

The wolf spider belongs to the family Lycosidae that are commonly abundant in grassland areas. They can also be found in different habitats. They are normally confused with the brown recluse, nursery web and fishing spiders.

Just like any other spiders, wolf spiders have two-segmented body, eight non-compound eyes, eight legs, and spinets with no chewing mouth parts or wings. Its jaws are made to hold its prey, eat and inject its venom. They have two sharp, horizontal fangs at the bottom of their jaws.

It is quite difficult to differentiate the many species of spiders that look like wolf spiders since most of them have bodies divided into two segments, eight legs and fang-like mouthparts called chelicerae. On the other hand, wolf spiders are large and hairy, and has a more robust appearance than any other web-building spiders. Their body color patterned is black, gray and brown.

Habitat

The wolf spider can be found in both dry and wet areas. They can be found in woodlands, coastal forests, riverbanks and many other places. Wolf spiders can be found in so many places because their spiderlings are capable of traveling far, making their habitat expand in so many regions.

They don't spin their webs, but they create burrows. They place twigs at the top of their burrow to further protect themselves.

During the fall, they may search for warmer locations, which is why you may be able to see them in homes or business establishments. They can be found in windows, basements and even in houseplants.

Behavior

The male wolf spider shows different behaviors, from a predator to an obedient mate. When attacking a prey, this spider can sometimes be seen scampering through open exteriors. They hunt on the ground at night to capture their prey. They may climb and swim, if the situation needs it.

Mating for the male wolf spider can be really dangerous and violent as they become the victim of the female wolf spider. At times, males get killed and eaten by the females right after mating. However, there are some cases where the male lives another day and mate again.

Food

The great distribution of these spiders around the United States is because of their ability to hunt prey. They do not wait for prey to come to them, but they will hunt them instead. They can travel long distances to search for their next meal. Their meal includes small and large insects. They can eat beetles and grasshoppers that are larger than them. They can even attack and eat other wolf spiders if they have the opportunity.

Life Cycle

These spiders can lay more than 100 eggs, which they enclose in a sac. Unlike the other spiders, their parental instincts are so high that they carry the sacs containing the eggs on their spinnerets anywhere they go. When their eggs are all set to hatch, the female spider will open the sac, releasing the spiderlings. The spiderlings will stay with their mother for a few weeks until they are ready to disperse and feed for themselves.

Other Information and Tips

Wolf spiders may be mistaken for the brown recluse. However, they are not dangerous and do not pose any serious medical threat to the general public. They do not bite except when they are threatened, disturbed, or provoked.

However, individuals who are bitten by this spider should seek medical attention, especially if there is an allergic reaction towards the bite of the wolf spider. The bite of this spider is still considered non-lethal, but can still be very painful.