Image Credit: Image copyright www.InsectIdentification.org; No Reproduction Permitted
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Image Credit: Image copyright www.InsectIdentification.org; No Reproduction Permitted
The Carolina Wolf Spider is North America's largest wolf spider and it has made every part of the continent its home.
The Carolina Wolf Spider is a skilled hunter, not a trapper like other spiders. It does not wait for prey to get tangled in an intricate web; it seeks out and attacks. Though it is possible to see them in the daytime, Carolina Wolf Spiders are nocturnal and are usually spotted by people at night. Brown and black bodies keep them well camouflaged on forest floors, but they are easier to spot on sandy soil near coastlines. They are comfortable in almost any habitat and sometimes wander indoors looking for insects to eat.
This spider is large, hairy and fast. The head is slightly elevated by the eyes. The cephalothorax has a tan line down the center of it. The sides of the cephalothorax are dark brown or black with a lighter brown border on both edges. The abdomen is shaped like an almond. The top of the abdomen has a dark almond-shaped mark near the waist and a chevron pattern toward the rear. Females are generally darker and larger than males. After mating, a female will dig a hole in the ground that can be almost 200 mm (8") deep. She lines it with spider silk and covers the opening with plant debris. This where her eggs are laid and wrapped in a silken sac. She will carry this egg sac on her back where ever she goes until the spiderlings hatch. It is not unusual to see wolf spider mothers carry all of her small spiderlings on her abdomen.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Arthropoda
Class:Arachnida
Order:Araneae
Family:Lycosidae
Genus:Hogna
Species:carolinensis
Identifying Information
Scientific Name: Hogna carolinensis
Other Name(s): Giant Wolf Spider
Category:
Spider
Size (Adult; Length): 18mm to 35mm (0.70in to 1.37in)
Note: An insect's reach is not limited by lines drawn on a map and therefore species may appear in areas, regions and/or states beyond those listed above as they are driven by environmental factors (such as climate change), available food supplies and mating patterns. Grayed-out selections indicate that the subject in question has not been reported in that particular territory. U.S. states and Canadian provinces / territories are clickable to their respective bug listings.
Spider Anatomy
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Legs: Spiders have four pairs of legs and these are attached to the cephalothorax.
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Pedipalps: Small appendages near the mouth used as taste and smell organs.
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Cephalothorax: Contains eyes, head, mouthparts, and legs.
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Abdomen: Contains various organs related to digestion, reproduction, and web-making.
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Spinnerets: Used in the production of spider silk for fashioning webs or catching prey.
NOTE: Unlike insects, spiders have both an endoskeleton (internal) and exoskeleton (external).
Colors: brow, black, ivory
