Wolf spiders are fascinating creatures that can often be confused with other spider species due to their size and markings. Ranging from 1/2 inch to 2 inches in length, they are typically brown to gray in color with various markings or lines 1. As a spider enthusiast, you might have encountered spiders that look similar to wolf spiders and wondered about their differences.
In your journey to learn more about spiders, it’s essential to not only recognize wolf spiders but also be able to identify the other species that share striking resemblances with them. A key identifier of wolf spiders is their maternal behavior where female wolf spiders carry their large egg sacs around, and after hatching, the spiderlings ride on her back until partially grown 1. By paying close attention to these unique traits, you can better distinguish wolf spiders from their look-alikes.
Understanding the world of spiders that resemble wolf spiders can be fascinating and useful for both enthusiasts and those who simply want to avoid any dangerous encounters. By familiarizing yourself with the various species and their unique characteristics, you’ll be better equipped to identify and appreciate these incredible creatures.
Identifying Wolf Spiders
Eye Arrangement
Wolf spiders have a distinctive eye arrangement that sets them apart from other spiders. They have four smaller eyes in a row at the front, and two larger eyes above them, with a final set of two more eyes further back on their head. This unique arrangement can help you identify a wolf spider.
Body Color
The body color of wolf spiders usually ranges from brown to gray, and they often have various markings or lines on their body. For example, the Speckled Wolf Spider has an overall darkish color with a narrow pale yellowish line running between the eyes.
Size Comparison
Wolf spiders can vary in size from 1/2 inch to 2 inches in length. Comparing the size of the spider you see to this range can help determine if it is a wolf spider or another species.
Hairiness and Abdomen Detail
Wolf spiders have a hairy body, which adds to their distinctive appearance. Additionally, they possess a more pronounced and detailed abdomen compared to some other spiders.
When observing a spider, keep the following features in mind to identify a wolf spider:
- Unique eye arrangement
- Brown to gray body color with various markings
- Size between 1/2 inch and 2 inches in length
- Hairy body and detailed abdomen
Comparing these characteristics to the spider you are observing can help in properly identifying a wolf spider. Remember to be cautious when handling and observing any spider, as some individuals might bite when mishandled or trapped against your skin.
Habitat and Behavior
Natural Habitat
Wolf spiders and their lookalikes can be found in a variety of habitats, such as grasslands, meadows, and rocks. They often prefer areas with plenty of leaves and grass to hide in. You might encounter them in:
- Forest edges
- Gardens
- Fields
These spiders usually stay close to the ground, making it easy for them to hunt and take cover.
Intrusion in Human Spaces
In their search for food and shelter, wolf spiders and similar species may wander into your house or other human spaces. Spiders like these often find their way inside because of cracks in walls or openings around doors and windows. To keep them away from your living areas, you can:
- Seal gaps and cracks
- Keep the house clean and clutter-free
- Vacuum regularly to remove any insects they prey on
Hunting and Feeding Pattern
Wolf spiders don’t spin webs to catch their prey. Instead, they actively hunt for their food, mainly consisting of insects. Their hunting behavior includes:
- Ambushing prey while hiding in foliage or under rocks
- Chasing and pouncing on insects
- Using their excellent vision to detect movement from a distance
When they spot potential prey, they climb if necessary and use their fast reflexes to capture it.
Mating Rituals
The mating rituals of wolf spiders and similar species can be fascinating to observe. Male spiders attract females by performing intricate dances or sending out vibrational signals. Here are some highlights of the process:
- Males wave their front legs or body to court a potential mate
- They may also tap their abdomen on the ground to create vibrations
- If the female is receptive, they mate and the male leaves shortly after
During the breeding season, it’s common to see an increase in spider activity as they search for partners in their habitat.
Remember, keeping your surroundings clean and maintaining a healthy distance from spider-prone areas can help reduce encounters with wolf spiders and their lookalikes. By respecting their natural habitats, you can coexist peacefully and appreciate their valuable role in maintaining the environment.
Similar Spider Species
Brown Recluse Spider
The brown recluse spider is often mistaken for a wolf spider due to its similar size and coloration. However, you can identify a brown recluse by:
- Its violin-shaped mark on its back
- Six eyes arranged in three pairs, which differs from the wolf spider’s eight eyes
Hogna
Hogna spiders, a type of wolf spider, might look similar but have distinct characteristics:
- Larger size, with some species reaching up to 1.5 inches
- Often found in grassy areas, fields or gardens
- They typically have a black or brown appearance with stripes or patterns
Grass Spiders
Grass spiders are another species frequently mistaken for wolf spiders:
- They have a similar size, color, and hairy appearance
- Their webs are found in grassy areas, which differentiate them from wolf spiders who do not use webs for hunting
- Long spinnerets at the end of their abdomen help with web construction
Jumping Spiders
Jumping spiders share some similarities with wolf spiders:
- Both are active hunters without using webs
- Both have eight eyes, but jumping spiders have one pair much larger than the others
- Jumping spiders are typically smaller and display various colors and patterns
Huntsman Spiders
Huntsman spiders exhibit some similarities with wolf spiders:
- They also hunt without building webs
- The coloration can vary from brown, gray, or yellowish
- They have long legs, allowing fast, agile movements like wolf spiders
- The main difference is that huntsman spiders have flattened and elongated bodies
Hobo Spiders
Hobo spiders might be mistaken for wolf spiders due to their similar size and coloration:
- Distinctive herringbone pattern on their abdomen sets them apart
- Their legs have no distinctive bands like wolf spiders
- They are funnel-web builders, unlike wolf spiders who actively hunt their prey
Keep in mind all these spider species when exploring and use their unique features for accurate identification.
Human Interaction with Wolf Spiders
Venom and Bites
Wolf spiders can be intimidating due to their size and appearance, but they are not considered dangerous to humans. If you happen to be bitten by one, you may experience initial pain and redness, as well as some localized swelling. However, these symptoms usually subside within 24 hours, and there are no known serious medical consequences.
Pest Control Methods
While wolf spiders are not considered pests, you may still prefer to keep them away from your home. Here are a few pest control methods:
- Seal cracks and gaps: Prevent the spiders from entering your home by sealing openings around doors, windows, and basements.
- Reduce clutter: Keep your home clean and free of clutter to eliminate hiding spots for spiders.
- Natural repellents: Use essential oils like peppermint, lemon, or lavender to repel spiders, as they don’t like the smell.
Coexistence with Wolf Spiders
It’s important to remember that wolf spiders can actually be beneficial, as they help control insect populations. If you can learn to coexist with them, it will be good both for you and the environment. Here are a few tips:
- Maintain a healthy ecosystem: Encourage a diverse ecosystem in your garden to keep the insect populations in check, which in turn will attract fewer spiders.
- Know their habits: Wolf spiders are nocturnal, so they usually remain hidden during the day and hunt at night. If you can avoid disturbing their habitat, they will likely keep to themselves.
- Keep a safe distance: If you see a wolf spider, simply let it be and avoid direct contact. They are less likely to bite if they don’t feel threatened.
By understanding more about wolf spiders and their behavior, you can make a more informed decision on how to handle their presence in your home and around your property.
Wolf Spider Offspring
Egg Sac and Spiderlings
Wolf spiders are unique in the way they care for their offspring. When a female wolf spider lays her eggs, she creates a silk-woven egg sac to protect them. The egg sac is securely attached to her abdomen, as she carries it with her everywhere she goes. This ensures the safety of her young during their vulnerable stage.
Once the eggs hatch, the spiderlings climb onto their mother’s back. This might seem strange, but it’s a crucial part of their development. They ride on her back until they’re partially grown and can fend for themselves. By doing this, they’re able to learn from their mother and have a better chance of survival.
Life Cycle of Wolf Spiders
Understanding the life cycle of the wolf spider can help you appreciate their unique behaviors. Here’s a brief overview:
- Egg: The female lays her eggs and wraps them in a silk sac.
- Spiderlings: Upon hatching, the spiderlings immediately climb onto their mother’s back.
- Juvenile: The young spiders eventually leave their mother’s care and start living independently.
- Adult: They will grow into adults, capable of mating and producing offspring of their own.
During this process, wolf spiders undergo a series of molts, shedding their exoskeleton to grow and develop. They will continue to do this until they reach adulthood.
It’s fascinating to learn how wolf spiders care for their offspring and the unique life cycle they undergo. Observing their behavior can offer valuable insights into the world of these amazing arachnids.
Footnotes
10 Comments. Leave new
Dear Squee, don’t be afraid. :^) Unless your daughter catches one and does it some harm, she has zero chance of being bitten by one of these guys. They don’t want any trouble, they just want to be outside to eat big bugs, including garden pests. Also, like you, they are devoted mothers: they carry their babies constantly on their body until they are big enough to fend for themselves!
We have loads of them where I live in the mountains of Maryland, and they have never bitten anybody I know. I just take them outside when I find one. (I let small spiders stay inside: they eat flies, gnats, mosquitoes, etc.)
If you approach one casually with an upside-down glass or plastic jar, you may be able to set it down over the spider, then gently slide a thin, stiff piece of cardboard (like a big postcard or calendar cover) under the jar. Then you can pick the whole thing up and take it outside to let the spider go. But don’t worry if you can’t catch it. It’s doing its level best to stay out of your way!
Just out of curiosity, should medical attention be sought in the case of a bite? I didn’t know that I had a young one on me and it got inadvertently pinched and of course, it bit…lol. It feels about like a yellow jacket sting, and I had no reason to worry until my husband looked it up and found information lumping them into a venomous category with widows and recluses! Of course I’ll keep an eye on it, and if I have more of a reaction than a yellow jacket sting, then I guess I’ll go to the doc, but this page has so much good info about bugs of all types that I figured someone here would know more than hypochondria-inducing google. Thanks!
To the best of our knowledge, the bite of a Wolf Spider would produce a localized reaction similar to a bee sting, but we would never rule out the possibility of a more severe allergic reaction in certain individuals. Since we are not qualified to offer medical advice, we would never entirely rule out a dangerous reaction. Let your body be your guide.
I live in south africa where I regularly catch wolf spiders (to play with them or keep as pets).
I concur that this is definetly a wolf spider without any doubt, a female almost identical to one I kept in captivity for 6 months before release.
Thanks for the confirmation.
I live in south africa where I regularly catch wolf spiders (to play with them or keep as pets).
I concur that this is definetly a wolf spider without any doubt, a female almost identical to one I kept in captivity for 6 months before release.
I came across this post while reminiscing about a spider identical to this which I kept as a pet back around 2002, and from everything I was able to ever divine about her she was simply a regional color morph of a carolina wolf spider. I found her in the warehouse of a retail store in Overland Park, KS and it was hard to identify at first since she didn’t really bear much of a resemblance to all the examples of the carolina species that I could find in reference books. Instead I sent pictures to several college entomology and arachnology departments and they confirmed it as a carolina via anatomical features vs coloration. She had the same orange fur on the chelicerae and small red spots on the skin to either side, along with the dark abdomen and relatively featureless cephalothorax that lacked the traditional wolf spider lateral stripe.
A couple years later I moved north of St. Louis, MO and observed that about 250 miles to the east all the carolina wolf spiders here look like this to a tee, being closer to what is normally shown in field and identification guides:
http://www.jeffpippen.com/arachnids/wolf-spider071021-2284jones.coz.jpg
Thanks for the interesting and informative comment.
I came across this post while reminiscing about a spider identical to this which I kept as a pet back around 2002, and from everything I was able to ever divine about her she was simply a regional color morph of a carolina wolf spider. I found her in the warehouse of a retail store in Overland Park, KS and it was hard to identify at first since she didn’t really bear much of a resemblance to all the examples of the carolina species that I could find in reference books. Instead I sent pictures to several college entomology and arachnology departments and they confirmed it as a carolina via anatomical features vs coloration. She had the same orange fur on the chelicerae and small red spots on the skin to either side, along with the dark abdomen and relatively featureless cephalothorax that lacked the traditional wolf spider lateral stripe.
A couple years later I moved north of St. Louis, MO and observed that about 250 miles to the east all the carolina wolf spiders here look like this to a tee, being closer to what is normally shown in field and identification guides:
http://www.jeffpippen.com/arachnids/wolf-spider071021-2284jones.coz.jpg
I have found nearly all black morphs right here in the heart of the carolinas, smack dab in the middle of both states almost. They can be anywhere from a light grey or tan, to deep greys, browns, and black. You still might see some of the pattern a bit but usually I see most hognus with a solid black underside.