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Wolf Spider with Egg Sac from Australia

Mother Wolf
Location: NSW, Australia
December 4, 2011 5:17 am
Hi again! Thought you might like this picture of a wolf spider and her egg sack. We found her while we where planting a mulberry tree.
Thank you!
Signature: Emma

wolf spider eggsac australia emma 300x275 Wolf Spider with Egg Sac from Australia

Wolf Spider carrying her egg sac in her Chelicerae

Dear Emma,
We agree that this looks very much like a Wolf Spider, and that it most closely resembles the Garden Wolf Spider, Lycosa godeffroyi, which is pictured on the Brisbane Insect (and Spider) website.  There is however, one very perplexing mystery for us.  Wolf Spiders drag their egg sacs behind them from the spinnerets and Nursery Web Spiders including Fishing Spiders carry their egg sacs in their fangs or chelicerae like your individual.  Here is a photo from our archive of a Fishing Spider with her Egg Sac and here is a Photo of a Wolf Spider with her Egg Sac, also from our archive.  The Find A Spiderwebsite concurs with our statement:  “Females produce a white or pale blue spherical egg sac and this may be carried around attached to the spinnerets. When the spiderlings hatch out they crawl onto the female’s upper surfaces, almost completely covering them. It is presumed this serves as an efficient means of dispersing the young spiders.”  We hope to get some additional information on this mystery.  Unfortunately, we cannot really make out the eye pattern arrangement in your photograph.

wolf spider eggsac australia emma cu 300x206 Wolf Spider with Egg Sac from Australia

Wolf Spider or Nursery Web Spider???

I have a theory about why she was carrying her eggs like that. We disturbed her burrow when we where digging the hole for the tree. So she probably had to grab them quickly, and didn’t have time to do the spinneret/silk thing. It was a shame to wreck her home, but we have LOTS of these spiders around our house. Kind of hard to avoid them. We moved her away after I’d gotten some pictures, so hopefully she found a safe spot for them to hatch.

Thanks for the theory Emma.  We still hope to hear from a few folks we contacted.

Eric Eaton responds
Daniel:
You are correct to at least the family level.  I suspect her egg sac became detached from her spinnerets and so she is carrying it this way for the time being; or perhaps the sac is about to hatch?
Eric

 

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Wolf Spider with Spiderlings

Spider Carrying Babies on Abdomen
Location: Northern Utah
November 20, 2011 9:23 pm
I took a wonderful picture of a large brown spider with hundereds of babies on her back. I’m just curious as to what kind it is.
It doesn’t look like a wolf/recluse spider because is had a white stripe going up its head between its two largest eyes.
Signature: Cloudiie

wolf spider spiderlings cloudiie 300x260 Wolf Spider with Spiderlings

Wolf Spider with Spiderlings

Hi Cloudiie,
To the best of our knowledge, among spiders this type of maternal behavior is limited to Wolf Spiders, though among Arachnids, Scorpions also transport their young.  Wolf Spiders are harmless.  We believe this may be a Rabid Wolf Spider, though your sighting is further west that those indicated on BugGuide.

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Wolf Spider with Egg Sac

Spider with Egg Sac
Location: Santa Rosa, CA
October 11, 2011 2:24 pm
I took a photo of a spider about .75” long in Santa Rosa, California, recently and would like to identify it. Can you help? Thanks
Signature: Glenn McCrea

wolf spider eggsac glen 300x220 Wolf Spider with Egg Sac

Wolf Spider with Egg Sac

wolf spider

Hi, Daniel –
Thanks so much for your help in identifying these creatures. This is a fabulous service. Do you know any local resource in my area where I could find help with local creatures so I don’t have to bug you (so to speak) on a regular basis? I live in Santa Rosa, CA, about 50 miles north of San Francisco.
Thanks again,
Glenn McCrea

Hi Glenn,
We ran out of time yesterday, and though we wanted to post this photo of a Wolf Spider dragging her Egg Sac from her spinnerets, we had to leave for work.  You are welcomed.  Your photographs were all quite nice.  We would suggest your local natural history museum for assistance. Nearby universities should also have entomology departments.  As long as you are understanding that we cannot answer all of our mail, you are free to continue sending us identification requests.  The Wolf Spider is our featured Bug of the Month for October 2011.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Bug of the Month October 2011: Wolf Spider with Spiderlings

Big ol’ spider
Location:  Florida Panhandle
October 1, 2011 11:39 AM
In other spider news, this is floating on a ball in our pool as we speak.  Even though it looks like a purple tennis ball, it is the size of a basketball, so this is a big spider.  If I’m not mistaken, those are baby spiders on a mother’s back.  Please correct me if I’m wrong.
Jeff, in the panhandle of Florida

wolf spider spiderlings jeff 300x230 Bug of the Month October 2011:  Wolf Spider with Spiderlings

Wolf Spider with Spiderlings

Hi Jeff,
You are absolutely correct in thinking those are spiderlings on the back of the mother spider.  This is a Wolf Spider and Wolf Spiders are known for their maternal care.  The female drags an egg case behind her from silken threads attached to her spinnerets.  When the eggs hatch, the young spiderlings will ride around on the mother’s back for several days, eventually dispersing as they drop off or jump off.  This behavior affords them some additional protection from predators as well as ensuring that all the spiderlings do not deplete the available food supply in a specific area, ensuring that they do not compete with one another for the food supply.  We wanted a nice photo of a spider to use as our Bug of the Month for October and your letter arrived in such a timely manner that we selected the Wolf Spider as our October Bug of the Month.

wolf spider spiderlings jeff 2 300x237 Bug of the Month October 2011:  Wolf Spider with Spiderlings

Wolf Spider with Spiderlings

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What’s That Spider???

*URGENT*~Brown Spider with Black Stripes~PLZ IDENTIFY~*URGENT*
Location: Columbus, Ohio, USA- near cut firewood in the back yard
September 20, 2011 12:15 am
Dear Mr. Bugman, I live in Columbus, Ohio & I just moved from the west side (Hilltop) to the north side (easton) area. Right outside my apartment at night on the 19th of September, almost midnight I went to sit on my step to smoke, since I do not smoke indoors. I actually seen something kinda looked balled up but in the dark I really couldn’t tell so I actually kinda scooted it off my step with my bare hand. I thought nothing of it & continued on smoking my cigarette & entered back into my house. Going out a second time to smoke, this time I turned the porch light on & right where I had kinda flicked the thing was a big, nasty looking spider. There is a big wooden stand that holds cut firewood right on that side of my door, in the back yard. This spider was bigger than most I have seen around here, in my house as well as from what I have ever seen around the Hilltop. So, naturally I am looking for markings immediately. I have been bitten by a nast y- poisonous spider before & it has left it’s mark on me permanantly. I have the scar till this day, not a pretty memory I care to remember or even admit. So, I do have some fear. However, I also have what I call ’population control’ around my house; which is where I determine by the size, quantity, location, & just pure looks which spider I shall allow to live on, in, & around my house. If these spiders do not meet my standards of ’safety versus benefits’ I am sorry to say, they must die & I take them out immediately. Most of the time- a shoe, sometimes the occasional death by being flushed down the toilet or rinsed with water down the sink, shower or bath. Anyhow, this spider out back of my new house has me worried & I cannot quite put my finger on what type of spider it is. Before I should decide this spiders fate, I am trying to give it the benefit of the doubt here. I need your expertise… It is brown, slightly hairy but not too much though. It has what looks like 2 black stripes from his head down his back to the very end of him. I did notice on his (but) area, it looks as if whatever those things are, (two somethings) maybe his spinners or what he uses to make his web, but they look rather long or protruding. I have never seen them so defined on other spiders before. They are easily recognizable on the end of the back of his body. I cannot see his face though. Just 2 black stripes from what looks like end to end. Please, if you can help me with the identification of this, I almost want to say beast because he is sooo scary… but of this creature. I would greatly appreciate it. I think from the pictures I have seen, I would say he is either a ’Wolf Spider’ or a ’Grass Spider’. To me, he does not match perfectly with either. I am concerned because of my kids. They play in this yard as well as walk in & out of that door when needed. The difference between the two spiders I mentioned are extremely important. From what I have gathered a ’Grass spider’ can be very poisonious? A ’Wolf Spider’ doesn’t look too pleasant either. so, if you would ever so kindly please help me, I will forever be ever grateful to your cause & your generousity. thank you kindly, with love from The Hall Family……Sincerely, Lilly Hall
ps. It is the beginning of Fall here & it did just rain today. When I went back outside to see if I could get better quality pictures. I went to take a picture of the web it spun inbetween the wood logs & discovered another one already. Now, Im freaked out there is a whole family out there. Also, I caught a slug, worm & God only knows what else all these bugs are- coming from underneath my step. It’s like a jungle out there. AHHHH, somebody help me. Then I remembered it did rain…. I sure hope the pics are good enough to help u indentify the species. I took it from my 3.0 megapixel Samsung rogue cell phone. You can always zoom in on it,especially if u have some good software. I am sorry I didnt have a better camera. thanks for listening. Plz email me back, thx so much….
Signature: Authentically, I’m not sure I understand. Please, by any means you wish. whichever way is best I would guess. thank you. sorry I do not understand what this is asking….

spider columbus 300x206 Whats That Spider???

Spider

Dear Authentically, I’m not sure I understand. Please, by any means you wish. whichever way is best I would guess. thank you. sorry I do not understand what this is asking….,
Our staff is speechless.  If the spider spun a web that looked like a funnel with a retreat hole, then it is most likely a Funnel Web Spider, a family that includes the Grass Spiders in the genus
Agelenopsis.  If it hunted without a web, it is most likely a Wolf Spider.  Any Spider might bite if provoked or carelessly handled.  Some people might be allergic to the bites of certain Spiders because not all spider venom is the same.  If you are nervous about Spiders and other bugs, we suggest you get rid of the wood pile by the house.  In our opinion, smoking is a bigger threat to your health than either spider.

spider columbus 2 300x206 Whats That Spider???

Spider

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Possibly Dotted Wolf Spider

Dotted Wolf Spider?
Location: Missouri
September 19, 2011 10:22 pm
I found this wolf spider in some brush when weed eating a few weeks back. I captured it and kept it as a class pet in my 5th grade classroom for a few weeks before releasing it. I believe it to be a dotted wolf spider or rabid wolf spider. I am leaning toward the dotted as the rabid usually has the abdominal stripe broken up and mine is smooth. Any confirmation would be a huge appreciation.
Signature: Nathanael Siders

wolf spider nathanael 2 300x199 Possibly Dotted Wolf Spider

Spotted Wolf Spider, we believe

Hi Nathanael,
The best we can do is provide you with our opinion.  We agree that this is a Wolf Spider in the genus
Rabidosa.

wolf spider nathanael 3 300x199 Possibly Dotted Wolf Spider

Possibly Spotted Wolf Spider

According to the Fairfax County Public Schools ecology website, the Rabid Wolf Spider, Rabidosa rabida, “is easily confused with other wolf spiders. It can be identified by its stripe pattern.  The cephalothorax (front body section) has two dark stripes. The abdomen (rear body section) has one dark stripe surrounded by two pale lines.”  That description matches your spider, however, the Illinois State Museum Spider Collection Online page on the Dotted Wolf Spider, Rabidosa punctulata, states:  “The Dotted Wolf Spider gets its common name from the black dots on the underside of its abdomen.”  Your photo of the underside of the spider clearly shows black dots.  Based on all of that, we agree that this is most likely a Dotted Wolf Spider.

wolf spider nathanael 4 300x199 Possibly Dotted Wolf Spider

Wolf Spider showing black dots

 

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Possibly Carolina Wolf Spider

Burrowing Wolf Spider ?
Location:  cheney ks
September 18, 2011 5:42 pm
I have been finding these holes on my property this summer while watering the garden.
I decided to investigate and dig up the hole and see what type of insect was making these holes.
I believe it’s a Burrowing Wolf Spider from looking at photos on your site but I could be wrong .
Signature: Chris Harris

hogna hole chris 300x206 Possibly Carolina Wolf Spider

What's In that Hole???

Hi Chris,
Thank you for a wonderful submission.  We opened your email yesterday afternoon, but we knew this was going to be a labor intense posting and we did not want to rush through it, so we waited until after some social commitments were fulfilled.  We are very excited that you submitted a photo of the hole as well as its occupant.  We agree that this is a Wolf Spider, and we are relatively certain that it is in the genus
Hogna, and though we believe it is a Carolina Wolf Spider, Hogna carolinensis, we have a few nagging doubts.

hogna chris 300x229 Possibly Carolina Wolf Spider

possibly Carolina Wolf Spider

The hairy orange chelicera or fangs and the other facial characteristics are a near perfect match to a Carolina Wolf Spider photo posted to BugGuide, but not all the Carolina Wolf Spiders posted there have such distinctive orange fangs.  The BugGuide info page on the species provides this information:  “The carapace is dark brown with gray hairs (lighter in males) and usually without distinct markings. The abdomen is brown with a somewhat darker median stripe. (1)  Orange paturons (chelicera) and black around the the ‘knees’ ventrally are characteristics of the species.(Jeff Hollenbeck)”  The dark abdominal coloration on your specimen does not seem to match any of the photos posted to BugGuide of the Carolina Wolf Spider, the majority of which have the darker median stripe.  Another confusing difference for your individual is that back of the knees are not black, but appear to be a lighter almost orange color.  We don’t know how much of this can be attributed to individual variation.  There are also many more species of Hogna listed on the genus page on BugGuide that are not represented by photos.  Kansas is listed as a known location for the Carolina Wolf Spider which is reported to be the largest Wolf Spider in North America.  BugGuide does not have any information on the burrowing habits of the species or the genus for that matter, however, we did locate some other links that mention the burrows.  The Carolina Wolf Spider Care Sheet on the PetBugs website has some helpful information including:  “Terrestrial, but will burrow to some extent.”  The Off Beat Pets website also contains helpful information including:  “Carolina wolf spider is terrestrial and does not build webs. It spends most of the time on the ground but may burrow to some extent.”  We have taken the liberty of deleting your street address to keep poachers who may want to collect and sell your Burrowing Wolf Spiders to collectors.  Again, thank you for providing us with a wonderful posting.

hogna face chris 300x237 Possibly Carolina Wolf Spider

Face of a Wolf Spider: Hogna species

 

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Wolf Spider and Brood survive drowning in swimming pool

Water Spider
Location: Sacramento, CA area
September 10, 2011 1:41 pm
What is this big, bumpy-looking spider I found submerged in our pool filter basket? It’s September and we live in Northern CA.
Signature: HJM

wolf spider brood drowned hjm 300x206 Wolf Spider and Brood survive drowning in swimming pool

Drowned Wolf Spider with Brood of Spiderlings

Dear HJM,
Many hapless creatures fall into swimming pools and drown.  This is a female Wolf Spider, and the bumps are her brood of Spiderlings which she carries about on her back after they hatch.  This maternal care affords some protection to the young Spiderlings, but unfortunately, once the mother fell into the pool, there was not much she could do to protect her brood.  We have had similar tragedies submitted to our site in the past, and some like this submission from 2009, have happy endings.

Thanks so much!  I actually figured it out shortly after emailing you.  I don’t know how she and her babies were alive, submerged like that.  When I brought up the basket, she seemed ok.  I left the basket up and out of the water and came inside to make my inquiries.  When I went back outside, the basket had fallen back down, but mom was perched on the top of the stem and all those little bumps came to life.  That’s when I saw all the little babies crawling on and around her.  How did they live submerged in the water the way they were?  I don’t think they all got rescued, but I did my best to drop mom and babies off in one spot.  Do you think the ants in there were harassing the babies?
Here are the photos:
https://picasaweb.google.com/HollyJAMs/20110910?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIKPq5aR_eDM8gE&feat=directlink

Dear HJM,
Thanks for writing back and clarifying that the mother and brood actually survived the drowning incident.  This has happened enough times for us to speculate that Spiders might be able to survive total submergence for a considerable length of time if they have the opportunity to dry out afterwards.

Yep!  They can!  http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/04/090424-spider-resurrection-coma-drowning.html

Thanks so much for providing us with the spider resurrection link.

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