Wolf Spider

Facts and Information about Wolf Spiders
Did you know the following facts about the arachnids commonly known as Wolf Spiders?  Description and key features for spider Identification. The easy way to identify spiders!

Common Name and Latin Name
The Common Name and Latin Name are as follows:
Common Name (s): Wolf spider
Latin Name: Rhabidosa rabida

Wolf Spider identification - what do they look like?
The Wolf spider does not appear flashy like some other spiders, the wolf spider relies on camouflage for protection so are collared appropriately. In size they can range from less than 1 millimetre to 30 millimetres, they have shorter legs than other spiders and appear more robust, they are also large and hairy and commonly patterned in black, grey and brown hues.  

What do Wolf Spiders eat? What is its prey?
What do they eat? Wolf spiders will eat the likes of

• Crickets

• Other spiders
• Ants
• Grasshoppers
• They will also occasionally take on small frogs and lizards.

Are Wolf Spiders poisonous?
All types (except Uloboridae) are poisonous! But are these spiders dangerous? These spiders are considered harmless to humans, they will inject venom freely if they are continually provoked, the venom if your bitten, can course swelling, mild pain and itching. 

How big are Wolf Spiders?
The size of Wolf Spiders ranges due to many different genre's, they can be smaller than 1 millimetre and grow as big as 30 millimetres 

Where do Wolf Spiders live, what are their habitats?
These spiders can be found in a wide range of habitats, whether its coastal or inland, such as a suburban garden, shrub land, woodland, wet coastal forest and alpine meadows. The majority of wolf spiders are wanderers with a few that build burrows with either an open door or a trapdoor. Some wolf spiders have specific microhabitat needs such as being near a stream.

What is the average life span for Wolf Spiders?
These types of spiders live on average for five years. Males die normally in the summer of its maturity following its first mating, where females may live for another year after her first brood.

Do Wolf Spiders have good eyesight?
These spiders eye sight is rather good as they need them for hunting, they have eight eyes in three rows, the bottom row consisting of four smaller eyes, the middle row with two rather large eyes and the top with two medium sized eyes, along with good eye sight they have a very good sense of touch.

Facts and Information about Wolf Spiders
Did you know the following facts about the arachnids commonly known as Wolf Spiders?

• Fact One - The Wolf Spider is usually active at night

• Fact Two - The Wolf Spider captures its pry by hunting rather than waiting in a web
• Fact Three - The Wolf Spider carries its eggs in a silk, globe, sack which they attach to their spinnerets towards the end of their abdomen
• Fact Four - With their egg sack attached to their abdomen, they have to keep it raised so it doesn't drag along the ground
• Fact Five - With the egg sack held up, they are still very agile and capable hunters
• Fact Six - Unique to wolf spiders is their care for their young, as they hatch, they climb up on to their mothers abdomen
• Fact Seven - Wolf Spider eyes reflect light very well
• Fact Eight - The Wolf Spider is nocturnal so hunts at night

Classification of Wolf Spiders
Species of spiders are classified according to shared physical characteristics. Spider taxonomy is the science of finding, describing, classifying and naming organisms in a hierarchical system. This method of classification helps when a description of 40,000 spiders is required! The organization of living things have seven major categories: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species. The classification of Wolf Spiders are as follows:

Kingdom: Animalia
(Kingdom relates to the highest taxonomic group into which organisms are grouped; one of five biological categories: Monera or Protoctista or Plantae or Fungi or Animalia) :

Phylum: Arthropoda
(Phyla are groups of classes. A series of animals or plants genetically connected with shared characteristics. The second biggest grouping in taxonomy. Arthropoda are jointed-foot invertebrates: arachnids, crustaceans, insects etc

Class: Arachnida
A Class are taxonomic group containing one or more orders. Arachnid  consist of any of the eight-legged creatures, including spiders and scorpions, of the class Arachnida

Order: Araneae
A taxonomic order, within the class Arachnida (spiders)

Subclass:
The Subclass is nother taxonomic category below a class and above an order which helps in the classification process

Family: Lycosidae
Another taxonomic category below an order and above a genus which helps in the classification process.

Genus: Lycosa
Another taxonomic category below a family and above the level of species which helps in the classification process.

Species: There are around 24 species of wolf spiders
Specis are taxonomic group whose members can interbreed.

Spider Exterminators - Pest Control 
Generally speaking, people do not like spiders especially the Wolf Spider and most of all, do not want them in their homes! There are many forms of pest control and ways to exterminate spiders such as the Wolf Spider. There are spider exterminators, services, spider zappers, spider traps, spider repeller, spider catchers, spider traps for the removal and extermination process. Advice is available on subjects such as pest controls, pest prevention, spider catchers, spider exterminators and how to kill spiders like Wolf Spiders. Some people would like to eliminate spiders from there homes completely, this can be very difficult as an open window on a summers day will allow spiders in, even opening your front door when entering and leaving will allow pesky spiders in. It is very easy to get rid of Wolf Spiders by catching them yourself. Its best not to kill spiders as they are very important in controlling the level of other insects that are pests.