But some, such as the desertas wolf spider of Portugal and the Kaua’i cave spider of Hawaii, are endangered. Many species are considered to have stable populations. The young hatch inside, then emerge and climb on mom’s back until they’re old enough to live on their own. Once mated, the female spins a round egg sac, attaches it to her abdomen and it carries around with her. When it’s time to mate, male wolf spiders attract females by rhythmically waving their long mouthparts (palps) or drumming them on leaves. One species has even been found living in wheat crops, feeding on pests such as aphids. From deserts to rainforests, grasslands to suburban lawns, wolf spider thrive there’s likely one nearby. While some species are found on cold, rocky mountaintops, others live in volcanic lava tubes. Wolf spiders have figured out how to live just about anywhere. Sometimes they dig burrows or make holes under rocks or logs to live in. The dark, mottled colors on their bodies help them blend in with decaying plant matter while hunting or avoiding predators. Most wolf spiders spend their time on the ground. Two large eyes gleam from the top of the head two more large eyes peer out the front and four smaller eyes form a row just above the spider’s mouth. Once wolf spiders catch their prey, they either mash it up into a ball or inject venom into it, liquefying the internal organs into a wolf-spider smoothie.Īll wolf spiders have eight dark eyes arranged around their heads, or cephalothorax. Most of the thousands of species in this family don’t spin webs instead, they chase and pounce on their insect prey like the wolves that inspire their name. If this document didn’t answer your questions, please contact HGIC at or 1-88.Wolf spiders are the sprinters of the spider world. If you find a wolf spider inside, the best way to get rid of it, is to use a container to catch the spider and release it outside. This will prevent spiders and their prey from entering. Keep doors and windows screened and closed, and seal entry points around framing with weather stripping. Exclusion is the best strategy for keeping wolf spiders outside. The best way to control wolf spiders in your home is to take each case one at a time. These spiders do not cause any harm to humans or homes. While indoors they remain behind doors, in windows, house plants, closets, or behind furniture. The young only stay on the mother’s abdomen for about a week before they disperse.īefore winter, wolf spiders may wander into homes and stay there for the duration of the cold weather. There can be several layers of spiderlings holding onto each other. Weeks later, when the spiderlings are developed, the female rips open the egg sac wall, and the spiderlings climb onto her abdomen, holding onto her hairs. She produces an egg sac that may contain over 100 eggs. The female is known for her ability to care for her young. Wolf spiders have an interesting life cycle. They have a disc located in the back of their eyes to help them see at night, and this disk reflects light from the flashlight. One way to see these spiders during the night is by shining a flashlight at the ground or into a patch of woods. ![]() Wolf spiders are mainly active at night, feeding during early evening hours, but they also are found active during the day along streams and lakes. ![]() These spiders can eat a variety of prey, such as: houseflies, crickets, cockroaches, and occasionally grasshoppers. They react mainly to vibrations caused by wings beating or by prey walking on the ground. They can be idle predators that wait for prey to pass by, or they can actively hunt their prey. Common name: spined micrathena, castleback orbweaver. While they do grow large, they are not aggressive and will drop and hide if you pass and they feel threatened. Wolf spiders have two hunting strategies. If they sense danger they drop to the ground. This allows them to escape predators, but also to feed on small prey in the water. Some wolf spiders can “walk on water” using tiny hairs on their feet to stay afloat. During summer months they can be found hunting in many locations, such as: woods, open grasslands, and along streams or lakes. In South Carolina many types of wolf spiders can be found in many environments. ![]() Small wolf spiders are less than one inch, whereas, some species are as big as two inches in length. They vary widely in size, color and habitat. Wolf spiders are one of the best-known type of spider in the United States and other parts of the world.
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