Is it a wolf? Or is it a spider? The name “Wolf Spider” comes from the Greek word “Aukoc” meaning “wolf”. It is used to describe the spider’s hairy appearance, agile hunting capabilities, and excellent eyesight.
The wolf spider can range from 1/2 inch to two inches long and, like a wolf, they chase and leap on their prey. Wolf spider features include:
- Orangish-brown coloring with gray and black splotches or stripes that give it a camouflage look.
- The wolf spider has eight eyes, made up of three different sizes, and laid out in three rows on top of its head.
- Like all spiders, the wolf spider has eight legs. In addition, the wolf spider has two extra leg-like appendages near its front.
- Female wolf spiders can carry their egg sac on their body and sometimes be seen with the young riding on their backs.
Where do wolf spiders live?
Wolf spiders live just about everywhere: deserts, forests, grasslands, residential lawns. The ability of the wolf spider to adapt to its surroundings has made it possible to live just about anywhere on earth.
Their survival capabilities are due in large part to their ability to camouflage themselves from predators. From above, the wolf spider coloring makes them look like a moving leaf pile.
Wolf spiders are a favorite treat for frogs, toads, and salamanders. Some snakes and lizards are also known to each wolf spiders.
The wolf spider hunts for food without using a web. Some wolf spiders dig deep burrows into the ground where they can get away from the weather and predators. Some have been known to put a trap door on that burrow to catch unsuspecting prey.
Other wolf spiders will hide out under rocks, trees, and foliage.
What do wolf spiders eat?
Usually under the dark of night, the wolf spider will hunt for crickets, other spiders, ants, grasshoppers and many other types of small insects. Some species chase down and grab their prey, while others wait for it to walk by and ambush it. Wolf spiders often jump on their prey, hold it between their legs and roll over on their backs, trapping their prey with their limbs before biting it.
How do you get rid of wolf spiders?
If you have wolf spider activity around your home, it is a sign that you most likely have an insect problem. Remember, wolf spiders feed on insects and they’ll go where the food is. The more insects you have, the more likely you also have wolf spiders nearby.
There are several do-it-yourself actions you can take to keep wolf spiders out of your home:
- seal cracks, crevices, gaps and other openings in the home structure, foundation, and around doors and windows,
- remove piles of old papers and boxes to reduce sheltering areas,
- keep the home clean and picked up of trash to remove food sources.
Regardless of the precautions you may take, wolf spiders are difficult to eradicate because they are a solitary spider that generally operates alone.
It is far easier to remove their food source; insects. Sigma Pest Control’s Quarterly Pest Control Service is your best protection against wolf spiders and other pests.
Keeping wolf spiders out of your house is an ongoing process, not a one-time treatment. That’s why our Quarterly Pest Control Service is so effective.
We return every three months to and treat your home and property for ants, spiders, roaches, wasps, fleas, centipedes, crickets, mice, rats and much more.
Images provided by:
skeeze from Pixabay
Peter Hüller from Pixabay
Les Whalley from Pixabay
Egor Kamelev from Pexels