Wolf spiders are common, and their robust appearance often leads to confusion with other spider species. Understanding their distinct characteristics is key to accurate identification.
Key Identification Features of Wolf Spiders
Wolf spiders, belonging to the family Lycosidae, are robust, hairy arachnids. Their coloration ranges from brown to gray, often with markings, stripes, or patterns that aid camouflage. Females can reach up to 35 mm (1.38 inches) in body length, with males being smaller. Some larger species can even reach 5 centimeters (2 inches).
A distinguishing feature of wolf spiders is their unique eye arrangement. They possess eight eyes arranged in three rows: four small eyes on the bottom, two noticeably large eyes in the middle, and two medium-sized eyes on top. This pattern provides them with excellent eyesight for hunting, especially in low-light conditions. When light is shined on them, their eyes produce a reflective eyeshine, similar to a cat’s.
Wolf spiders have long, stout legs for agile, swift movements. They also possess three tarsal claws on the end of each leg. Unlike many other spiders, wolf spiders have smaller, less prominent spinnerets.
Common Spiders Mistaken for Wolf Spiders
Grass spiders (family Agelenidae) are often confused with wolf spiders due to their similar brown, yellow, or gray coloration and shared grassy habitats. A key difference lies in their spinnerets; grass spiders have noticeably long and prominent spinnerets, while wolf spiders have much smaller ones. Grass spiders also construct funnel-shaped webs to catch prey, whereas wolf spiders do not use webs for hunting. Their eye arrangements also differ, with grass spiders having eyes of similar size in three rows, unlike the distinct size variation in wolf spider eyes.
Nursery web spiders (family Pisauridae) are another group often confused with wolf spiders. Both are active hunters and do not use webs to capture prey. Nursery web spiders are more slender with longer legs and often exhibit lengthwise striping. A significant difference is their eye arrangement; nursery web spiders have eight eyes that are all roughly the same size, in contrast to the wolf spider’s varied eye sizes. Additionally, female nursery web spiders carry their egg sacs using their jaws or pedipalps, not attached to their spinnerets like wolf spiders.
Brown recluse spiders are mistaken for wolf spiders due to their similar size and brownish coloration. However, brown recluse spiders are identified by a violin-shaped marking on their back and have six eyes arranged in three pairs, a distinct difference from the wolf spider’s eight-eye pattern. Hobo spiders can also resemble wolf spiders with their brownish colors and markings, but they are funnel-web builders, unlike wolf spiders.
Behavioral Clues for Identification
Beyond physical characteristics, several behaviors offer additional clues for identifying wolf spiders. Wolf spiders are active hunters, earning their name from their wolf-like stalking and chasing of prey. They do not build webs; instead, they rely on their speed and keen eyesight to pursue and pounce on insects and other small arthropods. This hunting style involves them roaming on the ground, rather than climbing or spinning elaborate traps.
A distinctive maternal behavior of female wolf spiders is their method of carrying their egg sacs. The female attaches a spherical silk egg sac to her spinnerets at the end of her abdomen, carrying it wherever she goes, allowing her to transport her unhatched young even while hunting. When the eggs hatch, the spiderlings emerge and instinctively climb onto their mother’s back, where they remain for several days to a few weeks for protection. A female wolf spider can carry dozens, sometimes over 100, spiderlings on her back. If a spiderling falls off, the mother stops and waits for it to climb back on.