Order: Araneae

Family: Lycosidae

Wolf spiders as their name implies, are hunting spiders and chase their prey. They are primarily a nuisance pest, but alarm people because they are big, hairy and run fast. They can be found worldwide, with over 100 species occurring in the United States and Canada.

Description: Adult female Wolf Spiders range in length from 3/8" to 1-3/8". Males are much smaller with hairy bodies. Their color can vary from dark brown with pale markings to yellow with dark stripes.

Biology: Females lay eggs in mid-summer. The egg sac is about 1/2 inch in diameter with an approximate average of 120 eggs per sac. The female spider carries the egg sac on her body. When the spiderlings hatch, they crawl onto their mother's body and stay there for a week until they are able to hunt for themselves. Their life span depends on climate, but adults may live as long as three years.

Habits: Wolf spiders do not build snare webs. They catch their prey by hunting and chasing. They build their webs as retreats and hunt for insects in the surrounding area. Wolf spiders are found under landscape timbers, wood piles, under decks and stones. They can enter structures in search of prey-sometimes being brought in side on fire wood. Once inside, they tend to stay and usually remain close to or at floor level. Inside, they build retreats along baseboards, under furniture, or other protected areas.