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October 1, 2021  |  By Ben Ivers

Wolf Spider

Wolf Spider Live

WOLF SPIDER - IUCN Conservation Status: INSUFFICIENT DATA

They lay more than 100 eggs

Have you ever seen a spookier looking insect?! This wolf spider is carrying its recently hatched young on its back! When I first saw this spider on the trail at Indian and Celina Lakes in southern Indiana, I thought I was seeing a spider with a large white abdomen. For me that was cool enough to lean in for a photo. That’s when I realized that I wasn’t looking at a white abdomen; no, I was looking at a mother wolf spider carrying her young on her back! Wolf spiders, which are members of the Lycosidae family of spiders, are the only known spiders to carry their young on their back. From the time that the female lays her more than 100 eggs, until the spiderlings are a few weeks old, the mother will keep the eggs on her back. She is still able to hunt even though she is carrying around 100 baby spiders!

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Wolf Spider Behavior

The wolf spider is a solitary, wandering spider. They will run about on the ground looking for their next prey. They hunt in one of two ways: running down their prey or by remaining still and waiting for their prey to come to them. In either situation, they will catch their prey and begin to devour them. They do not form a web, but do have a silk producing organ that they use to surround their eggs. Wolf spiders eat insects and other invertebrates primarily. Large females, which can grow to be up to two inches long are known to eat small vertebrates, such as amphibians and reptiles.

Spider Eyes

The wolf spiders have eight eyes arranged in three rows of two eyes, two eyes, and four eyes. Wolf spiders have excellent eyesight, which is unlike most other arachnids. The larger four eyes of the wolf spider have a tissue called tapetum lucidum in them. This allows them to reflect more visible light back to the retina giving them stronger night vision. If you ever want to look for a wolf spider at night, shine a flashlight around, and you just might see four eyes beaming the light back at you!

Goldenrod Crab Spider

Shine a light at night to find a wolf spider

More Fun Facts!

  • Wolf spiders will inject venom if they are provoked. It is, however, not known to cause more than mild discomfort in humans.
  • There are over 120 species of wolf spiders throughout the globe!
  • The Carolina wolf spider is the official state spider of South Carolina.
  • Like the wheel bug, females will occasionally eat their male counterparts.
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THIS MONTH'S GALLERY
indiana insect macro spider weird

Article by Ben Ivers

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Matt Hamas and Ben Ivers here. We are focused on fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of the environment. We endeavor to bring you a unique perspective of the wild. Our photos are being placed here for you to enjoy. Please feel free to download any of the photos for your personal use. We are currently seeking partners for printing and developing photos.

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Matt Hamas and Ben Ivers here. We are focused on fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of the environment. We endeavor to bring you a unique perspective of the wild. Our photos are being placed here for you to enjoy. Please feel free to download any of the photos for your personal use. We are currently seeking partners for printing and developing photos.

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