What Are Wolf Spiders?
Wolf spiders are arachnids that form the Lycosidae family. Their average size ranges between 0.4 and 1.38 inches, depending on the species. Of the over 2,800 species grouped into 124 genera, the largest is the Carolina wolf spider, reaching a body length of approximately 1.5 inches! Most wolf spiders have long legs and hairy, dark brown bodies with various color patterns. Wolf spiders have eight eyes arranged in three rows, providing them with excellent eyesight. Besides their eyesight, these arachnids possess the ability to run at high speeds – they can reach two feet per second! These abilities, in turn, make them great hunters and help them escape predators. Moreover, while other spiders spin webs to catch prey, wolf spiders have developed distinctive hunting techniques. Some species chase their prey and pounce on it, while others prefer patiently waiting in their burrows until insects or other spiders pass by to ambush them. Another unique wolf spider characteristic is how females carry their eggs; they attach the egg sacs to the spinnerets at the end of the abdomen and carry them everywhere. Females move with raised abdomens to avoid dragging the sacs on the ground. Some wolf spider species live in burrows, while others prefer rocks or other shelters found in the wild or urban areas; that’s why people often spot them in their gardens or on their farms, where they look for dense grasses, tall shrubs, and woodpiles.
What Attracts Wolf Spiders in the House?
While they do not prefer visiting people’s houses, wolf spiders will choose this as a last resort to find food. Since they are primarily insectivores and feed on insects like beetles, other spiders, and pest species, such as cockroaches, they’ll go into the house to look for prey. If you have pest problems and live in an area where wolf spiders are abundant (which is highly likely because they’re widely distributed!), there’s probably a wolf spider around, too.
How To Get Rid of Wolf Spiders
If you’re worried that wolf spiders may settle in your garden, here’s what you can do to prevent this: While you can’t fully control what visits your garden since it’s an open space, you can definitely make your house spider-free! However, this will take time, patience, and lots of dedication and perseverance. Here’s what you should do:
What Should You Do if You See a Wolf Spider?
First of all, don’t panic! Wolf spiders aren’t aggressive and will always run away unless they feel threatened. You’re not on their diet, so they won’t even try biting you if you don’t corner them. Moreover, even if a wolf spider bites you, its venom isn’t strong enough to harm you other than causing mild pain, swelling, and itching (that is, if you don’t develop more severe allergic reactions). Another thing to remember is to avoid squishing a wolf spider. It might be a female, meaning you won’t be doing yourself a favor. Why? Because females carry their young ones in an egg sac attached to their abdomens. So if you squish them, many other smaller wolf spiders may start running through your house looking for shelter. It’s important to understand whether a wolf spider got into your house by mistake (which happens often) or you’re dealing with an infestation. You can check their favorite hiding places to see if there are others. Suppose you find it physically or psychologically difficult to deal with the problem. In that case, you can always hire a professional pest control team to help you check the wolf spider population in and around your house and prevent the spread.
Up Next:
Do Wolf Spiders Make Webs?Are Wolf Spiders Poisonous or Dangerous?Are Wolf Spiders Dangerous to Dogs or Cats?
