Wolf Spiders
What are they?
Wolf spiders can be rather daunting at first glance, since many species are rather large, hairy, and often fast-moving. Their English name comes from the fact that they do not form webs to catch their prey, but instead roam actively over the ground - like wolves. During the summer, female wolf spiders can often be seen carrying their egg sacs, attached to their spinnerets at the back of their abdomens. They don't make a nest for their eggs, but carry them until they hatch, and even then the young can be seen riding their mother's back in a cluster. Some wolf spiders make burrows to hide in during the day, roaming out from these to feed at night, or waiting at the entrance to pounce on passing prey. These burrows can be quite distinctive, as the spiders often weave tiny sticks and other ground detritus into a small 'palisade' fence around the mouth of the burrow.
Identification
These are mostly rather large spiders, making identification to species a little easier, since the features can be seen relatively easily. Though patterning and color can be variable, it can be useful for identification, as can size of the spider, and the habitat that it is found in.
Hogna baltimoriana
A relatively large and chunky species, generally found in sandy areas. A pair of blackish triangles on the back of the cephalothorax, bordered along the leading edge by a pale M, is typical of this species.
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Geolycosa missouriensis
A common species of dry, open ground, but largely nocturnal and so seldom seen. However, the burrows of this species, with their distinctive little palisades, are commonly found and often form quite extensive colonies. One of our largest spiders, being overall dark brown in color and rather plain.
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Dotted Wolf Spider Rabidosa punctulata
A widespread species with a bold tan and chocolate brown pattern. Look for a pattern of dark spots on the underside of the abdomen (just visible in the middle picture below).
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Rabid Wolf Spider Rabidosa rabida
Similar to Dotted Wolf Spider but with the dark band on the back broken by pale areas. Males of this species also tend to have black front legs.
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