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Wolf spider

Hogna lenta

Description:

There are many genera of wolf spider, ranging in body size from less than 1 to 30 millimetres (0.04 to 1.18 in).They have eight eyes arranged in three rows. The bottom row consists of four small eyes, the middle row has two very large eyes (which distinguishes them from the Pisauridae), and the top row has two medium-sized eyes. They depend on their excellent eyesight to hunt. They also possess an acute sense of touch. Their eyes reflect light well, allowing someone with a flashlight to easily locate them at night. Flashing a beam of light over the spider will produce eyeshine. The light from the flashlight has been reflected from the spider's eyes directly back toward its source, producing a "glow" that is easily noticed. This is also especially helpful because the wolf spiders are nocturnal and will be out hunting for food, making it easier to find them.

Habitat:

Wolf spiders can be found in a wide range of habitats both coastal and inland. These include shrublands, woodland, wet coastal forest, alpine meadows, and suburban gardens. Spiderlings disperse aerially and consequently wolf spiders have wide distributions. Although some species have very specific microhabitat needs (such as stream-side gravel beds or montane herb-fields) most are wanderers without permanent homes. Some build burrows which can be left open or have a trapdoor (depending on species). Arid zone species construct turrets or plug their holes with leaves and pebbles during the rainy season to protect themselves from flood waters.

Notes:

spotted in my house

1 Species ID Suggestions

Wolf spider
Hogna sp.


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4 Comments

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 11 years ago

You are welcome!

Thanks Mauna Hemma for the ID

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 11 years ago

The eye arrangement does look like that of wolf spider. Awesome spot!

mauna Kunzah
mauna Kunzah 11 years ago

Nice shots!

That's a wolf spider, a member of the Hogna genus, probably. Sorry that I can't be more specific because I'm unfamiliar with the distribution of Hogna in Portugal. :)

Braga, Portugal

Spotted on Aug 8, 2012
Submitted on Jan 15, 2013

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