Lyla Lindsey
Wolf spiders are found all over the world, but there are several species unique to Australia. They are agile hunters with excellent eyesight, and they get their name from their hunting preference of stalking their prey like wolves. Wolf spiders are found in a variety of habitats, including shrublands, woodlands, coastal forests, and suburban gardens. They are usually ground-dwellers, living in leaf litter or burrows, and they are often found in lawns and gardens. These spiders have eight eyes, with four small eyes in the front and four larger eyes arranged in a square on top of their heads. Their body colours vary, with most having variegated patterns in brown, yellow, grey, black, and white, and they range in size.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Dry inland shrublands, woodlands, wet coastal forests, alpine meadows, suburban gardens, and homes |
| Prey | Small ground-dwelling invertebrates like crickets, ants, cockroaches, spiders, frogs, lizards, and cane toads |
| Hunting Style | Robust, agile, and solitary hunters that stalk their prey at night, relying on their eyesight |
| Venom | Low effect on humans, causing mild redness, itching, and pain |
| Bite Treatment | Apply a cold compress to the bite site for up to 20 minutes |
| Reproduction | Females carry their egg sac on their abdomen until the eggs hatch, then carry the spiderlings on their back |
| Burrow | Some build burrows with open holes or trap doors, while others make temporary retreats in vegetation |
| Body Colour | Brown, yellow, grey, black, white, or bright salmon pink with variegated patterns |
| Eye Arrangement | 8 eyes in 3 rows (4 small in front, 2 large in the middle, 2 medium on top) |
| Size | Body size ranges from less than 10 to 35 mm (0.4 to 1.38 inches) |
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What You'll Learn
- Wolf spiders have eight eyes, with two large eyes and six small eyes
- They are brown, yellow, grey, black, and white, with some species bright salmon pink underneath
- Wolf spiders are nocturnal hunters, stalking their prey like wolves
- They are found in suburban backyards, open woodlands, and shrublands
- Wolf spiders are not dangerous to humans, but their bites can be mildly painful
Wolf spiders have eight eyes, with two large eyes and six small eyes
Wolf spiders are found all over the world, but there are several species unique to Australia. They are agile hunters that live on the ground in leaf litter or burrows and are often found in lawns and gardens. The Garden Wolf Spider (Tasmanicosa godeffroyi) is the most common species in Australia, living in open woodlands and suburban backyards. Wolf spiders are named for their preference for stalking their prey like wolves, and they rely almost entirely on their eyesight to hunt.
The tapetum lucidum, a retroreflective tissue, is found in the four secondary eyes of wolf spiders, which are the smaller eyes. When a beam of light is flashed over the spider, eyeshine is produced due to the reflection of light from the light source. This reflection creates a noticeable "glow" that can be seen when using a torch at night to spot wolf spiders in your lawn.
Wolf spiders have excellent eyesight, which is uncommon among arachnids, and it is believed that they possess the third-best eyesight of all spider groups. Their superb hunting skills and eyesight make them effective predators in their habitats, which include a wide range of coastal and inland areas.
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They are brown, yellow, grey, black, and white, with some species bright salmon pink underneath
Australian wolf spiders are brown, yellow, grey, black, and white, with some species bright salmon pink underneath. They are robust, agile hunters that live on the ground in leaf litter or burrows and are often found in suburban lawns and gardens. They are also found in a wide range of coastal and inland habitats, including shrublands, woodlands, wet coastal forests, and alpine meadows.
The body colours of wolf spiders typically feature variegated patterns in brown and yellow, grey, black, and white. Some inland species are bright salmon pink underneath, while others have light grey, cream, or black undersides. The patterns on their bodies often include radiating lines on the carapace (front of the body) and scroll-like patterns on the abdomen. The sides of their jaws may also feature a small raised orange spot or 'boss'.
Wolf spiders have eight eyes, with four small eyes in the bottom row, two large eyes in the middle row, and two medium-sized eyes in the top row. Their eyeshine, or the green reflection seen when a light beam is flashed over their eyes, can be useful for identifying them. This excellent eyesight is crucial for their hunting, as they rely almost entirely on it to stalk their prey like wolves, giving them their name.
Female wolf spiders carry their egg sacs on their abdomens until the eggs hatch, after which the baby spiders ride on their mother's back until they are ready to disperse independently through ballooning or on the ground. Wolf spiders are not considered dangerous to humans, but they can bite if they feel threatened or mishandled, causing mild symptoms like localised pain, itching, and redness.
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Wolf spiders are nocturnal hunters, stalking their prey like wolves
The wolf spider's hunting strategy involves stalking their prey, pouncing on them, or chasing them over short distances. They rely almost entirely on their eyesight to hunt, unlike most spiders, which depend on webs and vibrations. Wolf spiders are also known to inject their prey with venom or mash them into a ball before ingesting them. Their diet consists mainly of ground-dwelling invertebrates, including crickets, ants, cockroaches, and other spiders, but larger wolf spiders may also feed on small vertebrates like frogs, lizards, and even cane toads.
Wolf spiders are found in various habitats across Australia, including suburban backyards, open woodlands, shrublands, wet coastal forests, and alpine meadows. They are often found in lawns and gardens, living in leaf litter or burrows. Some species build elaborate structures, such as turrets to deflect floodwaters or trapdoors for their burrows.
Female wolf spiders exhibit protective behaviour towards their egg sacs and hatchlings, sometimes entering homes to shield them from cold conditions. Wolf spiders are generally not considered dangerous to humans and prefer to avoid conflict. However, they will bite if they feel threatened or mishandled, and their bites can cause mild symptoms like localised pain, itching, and redness.
With their hunting prowess and adaptability to diverse environments, wolf spiders play an essential role in maintaining the ecological balance, particularly in suburban and natural habitats across Australia.
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They are found in suburban backyards, open woodlands, and shrublands
Wolf spiders are found in a variety of habitats across Australia, including suburban backyards, open woodlands, and shrublands. They are solitary hunters, preferring to hunt alone at night, and are commonly found in lawns and gardens.
Suburban backyards are a typical habitat for wolf spiders, particularly the Garden Wolf Spider (Tasmanicosa godeffroyi), the most common species in Australia. They are attracted to these areas due to the abundance of prey, such as crickets, ants, and other spiders. Wolf spiders are known to take refuge in holes in the lawn and often enter homes, especially during winter, to protect their egg sacs and seek warmth.
Open woodlands provide an ideal environment for wolf spiders to build their burrows. Some species, such as the Grey Wolf Spider (Dingosa simsoni), construct circular trap doors for their burrows, which they leave open while hunting. In woodlands, wolf spiders may use twigs to form a palisade around the entrance of their burrow, blending seamlessly into their surroundings.
Shrublands, with their dense vegetation, offer wolf spiders ample opportunities to create temporary retreats and build burrows. Some species may also venture into wet coastal forests, alpine meadows, and even homes, showcasing their adaptability to diverse environments.
Wolf spiders are agile and robust hunters with excellent eyesight, enabling them to stalk their prey effectively in these varied habitats. They are an important part of the ecosystem, helping to control pest populations by preying on insects and small invertebrates.
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Wolf spiders are not dangerous to humans, but their bites can be mildly painful
Wolf spiders are not considered dangerous to humans and will only bite when they feel threatened or trapped. They are beneficial to the ecosystem as they eat insects that are considered pests, such as crickets, ants, and other spiders. They also sometimes eat scorpions. Wolf spiders are agile hunters that live on the ground in leaf litter or burrows and are often found in lawns and gardens. They are most active at night and use their agility and excellent eyesight to stalk their prey, much like a wolf.
Australian wolf spiders are common in suburban backyards and have also been known to venture indoors to stay warm or protect their eggs. They are typically drab in colour, with variegated patterns in brown and yellow, grey, black, and white. Some species are bright salmon pink on the underside. The patterns often include radiating lines on the carapace (front of the body) and scroll-like patterns on the abdomen. The spider's jaws may have a small raised orange spot.
Wolf spiders have eight eyes in three rows (4, 2, 2), with the four smaller eyes in front and the four largest arranged in a square on top of the high and convex head. The most common Australian species are Tasmanicosa godeffroyi and Venatrix furcillata, found in temperate parts of the continent.
While wolf spiders are not venomous to humans, their bites can be mildly painful and may cause localized pain, itchiness, or discomfort. In rare cases, more severe symptoms such as prolonged pain, swelling, nausea, dizziness, and a rapid pulse may occur. Basic first aid procedures, such as applying a cold compress to the bite site, are usually sufficient to treat wolf spider bites. However, it is important to seek medical attention if symptoms persist or worsen.
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Frequently asked questions
The Australian wolf spider's body colour is typically drab, with variegated patterns in brown and yellow, grey, black and white. Some inland species are a bright salmon pink underneath.
Wolf spiders are agile hunters that feed on ground-dwelling invertebrates like crickets, ants, flies, cockroaches and other spiders. Some larger specimens have been known to feed on small vertebrates like frogs, lizards and even cane toads.
Wolf spiders are found in a variety of habitats across Australia, including shrublands, woodlands, coastal forests, alpine meadows, suburban gardens and homes. They are often found in lawns and gardens, living in leaf litter or burrows.
Yes, wolf spiders do bite but their bites are not considered dangerous to humans. They will only bite when threatened or mishandled. Symptoms of their bites include mild redness, itching, localised pain, and if the bite wound is not cleaned, it could lead to infection.
