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 The surest way to recognize a wolf spider is by the general stout
body shape, the eye arrangement and by the fact that they are
usually not in a web. Their general body shape is somewhat stout
with the cephalothorax and abdomen of about equal sizes. The legs
also are stout, fairly even in length and strong enough to support
the spiders weight. The legs can be compared to those of many web
building spiders whose legs are much longer and thinner. In wolf
spiders, the anterior eyes are made up of 4 small eyes in a row, and
the posterior eyes are 4 large eyes arranged in two rows. From a
front view, you can see a row of 4 small anterior eyes with two
larger eyes above them and 2 eyes further back on the head. The
large eyes are significant in their behaviour: wolf spiders do have
good eyesight (especially for spiders) and use vision fairly
extensively for prey capture, courtship and aggressive interactions.
The posterior eyes give the spiders vision above them and behind
them and are significant in avoiding predation or capture.
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Reply: Yes this is a wolf spider.
7 September, 2008:
We came across this spider during one of our pack campouts in Cunningham Falls Maryland (USA) just walking across the road before we hit the trail head. It was in June. We had a small debate about whether it was a wolf spider or the feared Maryland gigantic tarantula (which I made up, but it looked to big to be a wolf spider) – we all decided none of us knew and moved on. Any ideas? I would say the legs outlined a 4” diameter circle. I did see a wolf spider on the web with babies on the abdomen that did look a lot like the one we saw, but everyone is describing wolf spiders as being 1-2” in length. Thank you for your help. I thought your web site (http://www.spiderzrule.com/web.htm ) was very cool. Have a great day. |
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Reply: Yes this is a wolf spider.
7 September, 2008:
just wondered if you know if this a Wolf Spider?
Thanks,
Ted
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Reply: Yes this is a wolf spider.
7 September, 2008:
Hello Glen,
Is this a wolf spider with an egg sack? I live in PA, USA. Thanks for your help
Have a great day
Julia
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Reply: This is a wolf spider.
7 September, 2008:
I found this in my home and it was about an inch long. I can't tell if it is grass spider, wolf spider, or some other type of spider. I live in Maryland and am worried if it is something dangerous since I have an toddler at home. Any help in identifying will be appreciated. Thank you. |
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Reply: This is a wolf spider.
4 September, 2008:
Hello just wondering if you could ID what this big spider is. We caught it outside in a tub filled with water and bugs, im going for wolf but my bf says tarantula, or we could be wrong! If you could please let me know I would like to keep it and be able to feed it. Thanks
Brandy
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Reply: This is a wolf spider.
30 August, 2008:
Hello, I recently had a good sized spider pay me a visit (was not bitten or anything) and have looked around online a little, trying to identify it. I noticed your site and was wondering if you could help out.
Attached are a few Images, one from a distance to show Size, another closer to get detail..
It did not move when I noticed it, or when I took the pictures.. but moved quite quickly when I attempted to capture it...
Hope to hear back soon.
Jon
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Reply: This is a wolf spider.
18 August, 2008:
My husband and I stumbled on this spider while hiking in Colorado Springs. Could you identify it? Thank you
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18 August, 2008:
Hello! I was just wondering if you knew wat this kind of spider is. My sister lives in Georgia and has never seen it before, so we were just wondering.
It is attached to the email.
Thank you!
-Ravyn
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18 August, 2008:
Greetings,
We have these spiders in abundance and are dying of curiosity to know
what kind they are. They carry their hundreds of babies on their backs
and are relatively timid, and they seem to like to live in the dirt.
I've included a couple pictures which show a close-up of the babies and
another relative to a standard wrench showing the size of this thing.
Your input is very much welcome and appreciated!
Cheers!
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18 August, 2008:
Hi there I live in Brampton Ontario Canada and me and my kids came across this spider on a outing in Caledon Ontario at the bad lands any ideas on what kinda spider it might have been? I would say it was about 3 inches in size.
Regards Rich
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Reply: This is a wolf spider.
16 August, 2008:
I'm sure you get hundreds of these requests, but I just want to make sure this spider I captured in my house is just a wolf spider. I live in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and they are common, but I haven't lived here for a few years and I want to make sure.
Thank you for your help
Sarah S. |
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Reply: This is a not a hobo or
recluse but more likely a wolf spider.
16 August, 2008:
Hello…I just bought a house in Newnan, Georgia (near Atlanta) and found this after mowing and blowing my lawn. Looks dangerous…I actually killed a Black Widow on Saturday. This house has a lot of creepy things and it is only 2 years old. Please let me know. Thanks!
Is the first photo a Hobo, Recluse, or something else? Check out the second picture…that “was” the black widow that was killed Saturday. It was a black widow, right?
Thanks again…
Susan |
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Reply: This is a probably a wolf
spider because it has the same eye pattern as wolf spiders.
16 August, 2008:
Hey Glen,
Here's another photo for your
collection. This one is missing a leg. We actually have
two of them around the house. This one moved to our
garage this morning. It's about the size of a silver
dollar coin. I wish they ate brown widows. We are
infested with them!
Sheila
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Reply: This is a female wolf
spider with her egg sac.
August, 2008:
i believe this is a huntsman or a wolf, but would like clarification. i've had it as a rescued pet for a little bit now, and it just happened to pop out an egg sack. was wondering if you knew how long till they hatched |
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5 August, 2008:
Hi Glen,
I am attaching some pictures of a couple Wolf Spiders I've encountered this month. The first one is kinda hard to see right away, but it's there. It was running around on the loose soil under my grandfather's gourd vines. There are also a lot of these tiny spiders in my grandmother's flowerbed, and all over in her lawn. The second Wolf Spider is a bit easier to see, as he was running around in my house. These bigger Wolf Spiders always seem to get in the house, and I always toss them back out in the yard. LOL. Feel free to use the pictures if you want.
-Damy |
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Hi Glen,
I am sending some pictures of a neat, nearly intact Wolf Spider exoskeleton I found in my flowerbed while hanging a Hummingbird feeder. I've seen this type of Wolf Spider in my flowerbed a lot. I think it may be from a Rabid Wolf Spider. Whatever it was, it just got a lot bigger. LOL.
I am also attaching some pictures of two Spiders I think were Yellow Sac Spiders. One had made it's "sac" in my Sweet Betsy Bush. I have seen several of these this year, mostly at night, on bushes and low plants. Feel free to use the pictures if you want.
--Damy |
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5 August, 2008:
Hi, I was visiting your site and I was wondering if you could help me
identify a spider I came across in my garage. As you can see in the photo,
it's laying against the weather stripping of my garage door. I believe it is
some variety of Wolf Spider. Someone is telling me that it is a Brown
Recluse, however I disagree because I live in Las Vegas, NV, and apparently
those are native to the southern states. Also, as is my understanding, the
violin pattern on it's back isn't indicative as many spiders share the same
marking. |
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25 July, 2008:
I found this beauty lounging on my driveway last night. I
believe he is a wolf spider, but will wait on your expertise to
decide. He was 5-6 inches from tip to tip. I live on a mini farm
in rural Townsend, Ga. Please feel free to post and please reply
if you can identify. (
Thank you, Cathe |
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Reply:
I don't usually get photos of the underside so I don't
really know if this is normal or not. It's quite colourful
isn't it!! Are you sure it wasn't just playing dead?
Sometimes they do that and it's a good idea to still put
them outside rather than throw them in a bin or toilet just
in case!!
20 July, 2008:
Hi Glen, I found this spider in my basement (in Indiana) and caught it to release it outdoors. Unfortunately in the 2 minutes I left it contained in order to consult an identification chart, it died. I assume it's a wolf spider but the coloring on the underside of its abdomen caught my attention. The body is about half an inch long. Could it have died of fright? It wasn't mishandled or deprived of air. Is this a usual underside marking? Publish these if you wish. Thanks, Michelle |
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20 July, 2008:
So me and my boyfriend have been about an hour outside of gainesville in Bell florida (which is in the middle of the woods) and we have been getting mammoth spiders! Please help us tell who they are and if they are harmful! |
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20 July, 2008:
Hi! I quite enjoy browsing Spiderzrule, which has helped me identify a few spiders in my area.
I live in Salt Lake City Utah, and have just figured out how to take pics of small things (like spiders).
I have found that 98% of the spiders i see are 1 of 3 main spiders: Funnel Weaver/Grass spiders,
Jumping spiders, and wolf spiders. |
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Reply: Had a close up look at these photos and it appears to have 3 rows of eyes so I'd say it is a wolf spider as fishing spiders only have 2 rows, despite the pattern.
glen
20 July, 2008:
I had this spider run across the top of my foot one day while doing the lawn and decide to capture it and get some pictures before letting it go again.
I believe it's a wolf spider but I'm not 100% sure.
Thanks in advance,
Steve |
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10 July, 2008:
I am also sending two pictures of a little bitty Wolf Spider that was on the ground the other day. It blends in with the soil pretty good. Feel free to use the pictures.
--Damy
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Reply: This is a wolf spider.
10 July, 2008:
Any thoughts on what this is? |
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Reply: This is a wolf spider.
10 July, 2008:
Hi, I caught this large spider (Over 1 inch) coming out of my bathroom drain, and I wanted to make sure that it wasn't poisonous, as I have seen them before, can you help me figure out what type it is? Thank you~!! Matthew
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3 July, 2008:
Hi! I came across your website while trying to identify some spiders that I've recently started seeing in my house. I never see more than one at a time, but over the past 5 weeks I've seen at least 6 seperately. I have 3 children and 2 dogs and I really want to know if this spider is dangerous and if it's possible I have a "nest" somewhere. I live in Georgia and compared to the little house spiders we have, these things are HUGE!
Thanks for any help you can give me and feel free to post the pic on your site.
Chrissy
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3 July, 2008:
Hi!
I live in Alabama and am having major issues with a certain type of spider outside, as well as them coming into my house. I took this picture a few months ago. I have seen these spiders in all sizes the one pictured is the biggest that I have seen. With it's legs it was bigger than a silver dollar.I was wondering if you could tell me what kind it is and whether or not it is poisonous. It looks like a few of the different spiders that I saw pictures of on your website, so i can't be sure. One got on my 2 year old sons head lastnight, but thankfully did not bite him. I would be very thankful for ANY kind of information that you could provide me.
Jessica
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30 June, 2008:
Hi Glen,
Here are some pictures of a male and female Wolf Spider that were on my carport back in May. I thought they might have been about to mate, but I don't think they ever did. I came back to them a few minutes after taking the pictures and they were gone. Feel free to use the pictures if you want.
--Damy
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29 June, 2008:
I am also attaching one picture of a female Wolf Spider that was in the living room this morning. I think she was spilling babies all over the floor before I took her outside. Feel free to use the pictures.
--Damy
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22 June, 2008:
What kind of spider is this???Wolf Spider????--My husband was replacing a customers swimming pool liner. The pool was in bad shape, the liner had been torn(from the snapping turtle).This spider was clinging to the dirt wall of the pool eating his supper.
The spider was found in Millstone NJ -- Thank you!!
Hope the pictures came thru.
Tammy
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5 June, 2008:
Hi Glen,
Don't ask me the name because I don't know it. It's just a photo for you.
Cheers.
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3 June, 2008:>
Hi,
We have been getting what appears to be large wolf spiders in our garden in south east Victoria. In all the text I've not seen them mentioned to be this big, about 28mm body length. I have included a photo for your consideration. We have found 3 now in a month in the same spot in the garden, should we be concerned?
Great site
Cheers
AndrewClick for a larger
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30
May, 2008:
Here is a lil wolfspider with its yougons on it backClick for a larger
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30
May, 2008:
Can you please tell me what kind of spider this is and if it is harmful. I would also like to know if that means there are lots more where this one came from. Thanks so
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26
May, 2008:
Here are some pictures of a wolf spider right before she
laid her sac. The the last one is of her in her burrow with her
sac
Brian
Wilbur, WA
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22
May, 2008:
Hi Glen,
As a recovering arachniphobe I find your site very helpful and informative!
I was wondering if you could please identify these two spiders. I've come a long way but they still freak me out terribly.
The first spider and his mates ran rampant through the garden of our old house and would also come into the house sometimes, which was very confronting as they're huge and we had a small baby. Thankyou in advance :)
Melissa
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13
May, 2008:
Glen- my daughter loves bugs and spiders. Is this a
wolf spider in your opinion? Dangerous to pick up?
Please feel free to post this picture. Greg
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May, 2008:
Hello, Was wondering if you could help identify this guy?
I have a 2 year old and a new born baby at home. Is there
anything to worry about? Thanks so much! Joe
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10
May, 2008:
Greetings from SW Florida – Altho spiders kinda creep me
out, I just couldn’t deny how incredible this one looked!
Based on your site, she looks like a mother Wolf spider with
her babies…? Hope you enjoy the photo! She was quite the
poser! Thanks. –Dawn H.
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4 May, 2008:
Hi Glen,
This little female was toting around her offspring the other
night on the carport. She was nice enough to let me take a
few pictures. Feel free to use them if you want.
--Damy
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3 May, 2008:
Hi Glen,
Most Wolf Spiders are pretty, but this one was just
gorgeous, in my opinion. Something about his fur. He was
out and about on the carport the other night during a
thunderstorm. Feel free to use the pics if you want.
--Damy
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3 May, 2008:
Hi Glen,
This great big female Wolf Spider was grasping the wall outside the other morning before daylight. I've discovered that spiders will let you get really close if you just move very slowly and calmly. Feel free to use the pics if you want.
--Damy
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Reply: I think its a wolf spider not a huntsman.
3 May, 2008:
Glen,
I got two loads of topsoil today and found this guy/gal
in the dirt. I guess it's a good sized huntsman spider, but
the legs are, to an extent, translucent. Is it because it
has just moulted?
RRich Click for a larger view. |
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Reply: This looks like a female wolf spider
with her babies on her back.
13 April, 2008:
Is this a fishing spider with a troupe of pups on her
back? I took this photo in Pearl River LA. where the water
table is inches below the grass.
Thank You Dearly!
Mark
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Reply: This looks like a male wolf spider.
13 April, 2008:
Hi, good morning......please if you have time could you ID
this spider i found in the house, sorry its not to clear, but if
you zoom in you will see it has a white stripe down its back.
sorry to bother you, its just that we cannot find reference of
it in our book, daren
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Reply: This is a wolf spider. Brown Recluse have a
darker brown violin shape on the top of their cephalothorax
(head part).
20 April, 2008:
Hi Glen, I found a spider in my living room this morning
and I am not sure what kind it is. It looks almost like a brown
recluse but I am not sure if it is or not. Can you please take a
look at the 6 pictures I have attached of the guy and let me
know what you think? I just need some peace-of-mind because if
it is a brown recluse I might have the exterminator come to my
house. Please feel free to use my photos if you'd like. If it is
not a brown recluse it sure is a look alike. Thanks, Crystal |
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Reply: This looks like a female wolf spider with its
babies on its back. They are not considered dangerous but can bite
like all spiders can. Small children should be taught to
recognise but not touch spiders.
19 April, 2008:
Hi Glen, I found this spider floating in our pool. When
it saw me, it jumped onto this pink swimming noodle. I removed
the noodle from the pool and when I put it onto our patio, a
bunch of tiny spiders went scurrying in all directions. Being
that we will be having lots of spider babies running around, I
was wondering (1) what kind of spider is this? And (2) are they
safe to be around my 3 yr old? Thanks Lisa |
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Reply: This looks like a female wolf spider with its
babies on its back.
13 April, 2008:
hi Mate, apologies for the picture, found this at night in
our garden, we live near Redcliffe, QLD... and we are poms looked in
the wildlife of greater brisbane book, but could find no
comparison.. maybe huntsman????
regards
daren
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2 April, 2008:
Hi Glen, I was playing with my flashlight the
other night, looking for eyes, and I found a lot
of them. Most of them I found eight at a time.
LOL. These Wolf Spiders are easy to find at
night. I've seen eye reflections from across the
yard before, and thought it must be a huge
spider, only to find a pinhead-sized one when I
track it down. You can use the pics if you
want.--Damy
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2 April, 2008:
Hi Glen, I was actively seeking photography
subjects, (mostly spiders) when I saw these three
little spiders. I think one of them is a young Wolf
Spider, but I'm not sure about the one with a pink
stripe down his back, or the one perched on the
stick. Two were small (about 1/2 inch legspan) and
active, running around in the leaf litter beside a
small stream. The one on the stick was slightly
smaller than the other two and had thinner legs. It
was running around a clear patch of dirt and across
any obstacle in its path.--Damy
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20 March,
2008:
I found this in my garage yesterday morning in Modesto,
Ca. I think it is a Wolf spider but im not sure. I hope
you can zoom in on it some more. Please let me know.
Thank you; Shaniece
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16 March,
2008:
Hey, i live in Florida and i found this spider right next
to my door, i looked at your site and it kind of
looked like a Wolf Spider but i
couldn't be sure because the ...i guess abdomen of the
spider looked different then some of the pictures that
i had seen. Attached is a photo. Keith
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20 February,
2008:
Any help you can offer would be great. I have never seen one
like this in all my years in Oklahoma. Thanks. Great site by the
way! Russell
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8 February,
2008:
Hi Glen, Last night was unseasonably warm here, and there were some
creatures stirring that are usually dormant in February. Two of them were under
my carport, so I thought I'd snap some pics. I think this was a male and female
Wolf spider. Feel free to use the pics if you want. -- Damy
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