Wolf spider

Fact Box Species: Lycosa species? (based on similarities with known Lycosa species) Family: Lycosidae Body length: female: 17 mm male: 15 mm Habitat: This species normally lives in an open burrow in the ground; the burrow itself typically descends vertically then runs parallel with the surface; the burrow entrance is generally circular and may have a small amount of web or leaf litter to stabilise it Toxicity: This spider's venom may cause mild illness or necrotising arachnidism and the males (especially) sometimes wander into houses. Fortunately, it prefers to run away rather than bite so it does not present a major hazard

Front view Underside of spider Another species Another species The same species? Side view Underside of spider Another species?

Most wolf spider species have distinctive patterns of dark markings on their upper body surfaces and a pair of large eyes (plus six small ones) that give them good forwards vision. Like other wolf spiders the species shown on this page tends to wait just inside the entrance of the burrow and can often be seen there (especially at night when the eyes reflect the light of a torch) or can be attracted to the surface by a grass stalk inserted into the burrow entrance.

Wolf spiders are notable vagrants and can sometimes be found outside the burrow foraging for insects. Females produce a white or pale blue spherical egg sac and this may be carried around attached to the spinnerets. When the spiderlings hatch out they crawl onto the female's upper surfaces, almost completely covering them. It is presumed this serves as an efficient means of dispersing the young spiders.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: This spider closely resembles Lycosa godeffroyi but lacks the black patch under the abdomen and the orange patch of hairs on the outside of each chelicera which are characteristics of L. godeffroyi. Also similar to this species are a number of other Lycosa species (as shown in the last two thumbnail images on this page Lycosa specimens are difficult to identify down to species level) as well as Miturga lineata and Dolomedes instabilis.