Wolf spider

Fact Box Species: Allocosa palabunda? (or a very similar species - see notes below) Family: Lycosidae Body length: female: 8 mm male: 6 mm Habitat: In a shallow burrow, usually with an open and unadorned entrance Toxicity: Too small to cause serious illness

This species has surface markings that are quite similar to those other members of the same family, although it is smaller than Lycosa species. It is very common in lawns and the males often wander into houses in spring and summer.

Note: The Lycosidae of Australia are very difficult to identify without the aid of a stereo microscope and extensive taxonomic details. Surface markings can be quite variable for a given species, from specimen to specimen, from male to female, and from juvenile to adult. Over the last decade or so a major revision of the Australian wolf spider fauna has been undertaken by Dr. Volker Framenau and his colleagues. This revision is not yet complete so some of the lycosid identifications shown on this website are likely to be incorrect either now or in the near future. At the end of 2010 the most reliable sources of information/photos about the Australian lycosids can be found at the following two websites:

http://www.lycosidae.info/identification/australia/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/australianspiders/collections/72157622669463297/

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Artoriopsis expolita and Venatrix furcillata.