Wolf Spider
Category: Spiders
Scientific Name: Lycosa
Identification:
Color: dark brown with lighter stripes or markings
Size: ¼ inch to 1 ½ inches long
Region: Found throughout the United States
Lifespan: 1-3 years
Important Considerations:
- Unlike most spiders, wolf spiders do not catch prey using webs. Instead, the chase them.
- Because of their highly mobile nature, wolf spiders are seen frequently by humans.
- Wolf spiders can easily be confused with tarantulas because both spiders are large and hairy.
- If provoked, a wolf spider will bite. Thankfully, though, wolf spider bites are not lethal. However, it will sting, swell, and should be treated by a medical professional.
Where to Find Them on Your Property?
Whether inside or outside, wolf spiders seek areas that offer protection but also the chance to bolt if prey comes nearby. In your yard or garden, they choose to reside under rocks, inside tall grass, inside leaf piles, or underneath shrubs. It is not uncommon for wolf spiders to follow prey inside your home. If they do so, they will live underneath furniture and run along the base of your walls.