Wolf Spiders – Lycosidae

Wolf Spiders   Family: Lycosidae Common Name: Wolf spiders Appearance: Wolf spiders typically range from 10-35 mm in length and have a brown, black, grey, or tan color with lighter stripes. They also have a scroll-like pattern on the abdomen. They have a total of 8 eyes divided into three rows. There are four smaller eyes at the front with two larger eyes in the middle and then again two eyes on the lateral side of the head. They have 8 legs covered with dense hairs. Host Plants or Food: Wolf spiders are insectivores. They feed on a variety of insects, including aphids, crickets, flies, ants, grasshoppers, etc. Territory: They are found throughout the world except Antarctica. Found throughout North America. Mode of Damage: Wolf spiders prey on many plant pests; therefore, they are considered beneficial garden insects. Habits and Life History: Wolf spiders are found anywhere there is food for them. They can be found in gardens, fields, forests, wooded areas, coastal areas, and marshes. Some of them dig burrows into the ground and live there. When the mating time comes, the male follows a certain signal left by the female spider. After mating, the female wolf spider spins an egg sac similar to a ball and attaches it to her spinnerets. The spiderlings hatch from that sac and climb on their mother’s abdomen, and remain there for almost 2 weeks. When they develop enough to live on their own, they leave the mother and start feeding. They have a life span of up to two years.