Wolf Spiders

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Wolf spiders are a very interesting group of spiders. First, they are hunting spiders rather than web building, gathering spiders. They walk or run around the ground among rocks and leaf piles searching out prey.

There are many different wolf spider species in the Lycosidae family. Generally they range from small to medium sized, and they are normally a dull brown, gray or black color.

Females, like the one in the above picture, carry their egg sac around with them. Once born, the young spiders hop on their mom's back for a couple of weeks before they go their separate ways.

The National Institute of Health has a couple of articles about wolf spider bites and they summarize them as follows,

"Because of their dark color and hunting habits, wolf spiders (Lycosidae) are often confused with the much more dangerous brown recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa). Unlike the brown recluse spider, wolf spider envenomation seldom causes cutaneous necrosis or systemic symptoms."

Like all spiders, wolf spiders bite, but their bite is considered more annoying than dangerous.

© 2005 Patricia A. Michaels