Wolf Spider (Female)

Description:

An adult wolf spider is 1/2 inch to more than 1 inch in body length, mottled gray to brown in color. The female carries it's young on its back (just like in this spotting). Wolf spiders are members of the family Lycosidae (Sundevall, 1833), from the Ancient Greek word "λύκος" meaning "wolf". They are robust and agile hunters with excellent eyesight. They live mostly solitary lives and hunt alone. Some are opportunistic hunters pouncing upon prey as they find it or even chasing it over short distances. Some will wait for passing prey in or near the mouth of a burrow. Wikipedia.

Habitat:

Backyard, spotted on weeds.

Notes:

The Greek name for wolf is Lycos, and wolf spiders (family Lycosidae) are named as such because they were previously thought to hunt in groups. Wolf spiders are unusual because they do not build webs but rather hunt for their prey, in contrast to other spiders catching their prey in webs. These spiders can be as large as 3 cm in length and are dark brown in color. Wolf spiders are also characterized by good vision, with eight eyes. The female spins a large white spherical egg sac that she attaches to her body and carries around until the eggs hatch, after which the newborn spiders stay on the mother's back for about a week. Venom toxicity - the bite of the Wolf Spider is poisonous but not lethal. Although non-aggressive, they bite freely if provoked and should be considered dangerous to humans. The bite may be very painful. First aid and medical attention should be sought as soon as possible, particularly as to children or the elderly. http://www.termite.com/spider-identifica.... http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/pest....