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Wolf
Spider
Characteristics –
Size: Wolf spiders come in many sizes with a body size ranging from
1/4-inch to more than one and a half inches in length. The largest species may
have a leg measuring up to three inches or more leading many homeowners to
mistake them for tarantulas.
Color: Most wolf spiders are brown although some may appear black.
These spiders are usually quite hairy.
Behavior –
Wolf spiders are active hunters which search for prey during the day or night,
depending on the species. These common spiders may live in significant numbers
around homes and other buildings, especially those structures which have lush
landscaping. Wolf spiders enter underneath doors or through cracks in the
exterior walls. Wolf spiders are unique in that they carry their egg sacs from
the tip of their abdomens attached to the spinnerets. The young spiderlings also
ride on the mother’s back for a few days after hatching. Bites involving wolf
spiders are rare and are not dangerous.
Habitat – Outdoors, wolf spiders occupy a wide variety of
habitats, usually at ground level. They will be common in heavy ground covers,
such as ivy or monkey grass, and can be found beneath stones and other items, as
well as within cracks between landscape timbers. They do not breed in homes, and
usually only one to a few will be seen inside.
Tips for Control – The best approach for controlling wolf
spiders is through placement of sticky traps to capture the few spiders that may
have entered. Maintaining sticky traps behind furniture, to either side of
exterior doors, and in the garage is an excellent way to intercept most spiders
as they enter. Steps that should be taken to prevent new spiders from entering,
include:
 | Removing or limiting heavy, ground-covering vegetation near the building.
| Sealing cracks and holes in the building's exterior.
| Installing tight-fitting screens on all attic and foundation vents.
| Sealing holes around pipes indoors to prevent spiders from entering the
living spaces by following plumbing lines in basements and crawl spaces. |
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