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Image Credit: Image copyright www.InsectIdentification.org; No Reproduction Permitted
Wolf Spiders have a high creep factor thanks to their size, speed, and those hairy, bending legs.
Wolf Spider Videos
Wolf Spider running from gentle puffs of air
Often seen in the woods or running along nearby pavement, Wolf Spiders do occasionally wander indoors, offering service with a fright to the people inside. They are larger than most spiders found inside, and tend to try to run away from people approaching them. They are hunters, not web-spinners, so they are fast and agile, making sudden sprints to either capture prey or evade capture themselves. Like almost every spider in North America, it has venom, but it is not poisonous or lethal. They can bite when agitated, causing pain and redness which may last for days, but the wound does eventually heal.
The long legs of the Wolf Spider can bend at a sharp angle when walking. Other joints can also have a crook in them, which creates a disturbing body profile commonly seen in scary movies. A tan border surrounds the cephalothorax, or head 'plate', which is slightly humped. A pale tan line separates two black halves. The abdomen is more oblong than spherical and often showcases a pattern down the center, which can be as simple as a black mark shaped like a leaf from a holly bush.
Wolf Spiders are known for their reflective eyes. Like deer in headlights, the 8 small eyes on a Wolf Spider reflect a greenish light at night when passed over with a flashlight. It is often how campers realize these spiders are around. They do take shelter inside tents, so it's always a good idea to shake out sleeping bags and shoes before using them.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Arthropoda
Class:Arachnida
Order:Araneae
Family:Lycosidae
Genus:Tigrosa
Species:spp.
Identifying Information
Scientific Name: Tigrosa spp.
Category:
Spider
Size (Adult; Length): 11mm to 31mm (0.43in to 1.21in)
Colors: brown, black, tan
Descriptors: bent legs, fast, large, inside, biting, venomous
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: brown, black, tan
