Carolina Wolf Spider (Hogna carolinensis)
Detailing the physical features, habits, territorial reach and other identifying qualities of the Carolina Wolf Spider.
Updated: 2/14/2018; Authored By Staff Writer; Content ©www.InsectIdentification.org
Carolina Wolf Spider
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.
