Wolf Spider
Wolf spiders are members of the family Lycosidae. This family belongs to the order Araneae, which includes all known spiders. There are more than 100 genera and about 2,300 species of wolf spiders with 200 of those species living in the United States [1]. The wolf spider mainly feeds on insects, has a lifespan of up to a year (making them annuals), and ranges in size from 0.24 to 1.2 inches [2].
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classification | Animalia | Arthropoda | Arachnida | Araneae | Lycosidae |
Description
The size of the wolf spider can be as small as 1/4 inch but can grow as large as 2 inches, with females being much larger than males. Their eyes are separated into 3 rows with the bottom row containing 4 small eyes, the middle row containing 2 large eyes, and then the top row containing 2 medium-sized eyes. This gives them the powerful vision to detect their prey, even at night. Their bodies are also covered in hairs that help them detect their surroundings with touch. Wolf spiders have a wide range of colorations including black, orange, brown, and grey [3].
Habitats
Wolf spiders are found all throughout the United States. Their common habitats include woods, grasslands, and shrubbery (any area that has a close source of running water). Since there is such a variety in species and size, their range of habitats is broad. Instead of living on spun webs, the wolf spiders create shallow burrows in the dirt for resting and overwintering [4].
Mating and Reproduction
Male wolf spiders only come in contact with female wolf spiders during their mating season. Mating takes place outside of the female's burrow at night. The male is attracted to the female through the pheromones from the silk they produce. Males perform a complex mating dance that includes complex leg movements and palp signaling to the female. After mating is completed, the female constructs an egg sac that she carries around and protects. Females are very defensive over their egg sacs and show aggressive behaviors when they are lost or to protect them [1].
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Hunting Habits
Wolf spiders get their name from the way that they hunt and stalk their prey. They are usually lone hunters, which does not hinder their chances of catching prey. Just like actual wolves, the wolf spider leaps at its prey after stalking them and uses its strong jaws to bite and consume them. Common prey of this species includes: crickets, earwigs, grasshoppers, flies, and ants [3]. They have even been found to prey upon small reptiles or amphibians in some cases. Unlike other arachnid species, wolf spiders will hunt in a set territory and return prey to their nest to consume it [1].
References
[1] Wolf Spiders - Great Facts, Venom & Habitat Information. (n.d.). .
[2] Wolf Spider Facts. 2018, December 14. . https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/wolf-spider.
[3]Wolf Spider - Size, Appearance, Bite, Facts and Pictures. 2018, November 15. . https://badpests.com/wolf-spider/.
[4] Wolf Spider Habitat | Terminix. (n.d.). . https://www.terminix.com/spiders/wolf/where-do-wolf-spiders-live/.