Wolf Spiders in California

Of the many spiders that live in California, Wolf Spiders are of the family Lycosidae. The name is derived from the Greek word lycos, meaning wolf. These spiders do not catch their prey in webs, but hunt them down and chase them like wolves. A common spider to California regions is the wolf spider. Brownish in color and growing up to 4 inches across, wolf spiders closely resemble Tarantulas in appearance and are often mistaken for them.

Distribution and Habitat

• Wolf spiders are one of the most prevalent spiders in the U.S., with the California climate being perfect for them. With so many within California, they have even been known to be called the California Wolf Spider. Wolf spiders can often be found inside the home, as they will attempt to secure a warm place during the winter months and they do not spin a web, which allows them to be nomadic.

Diet

• A favorite part of the Wolf spider diet: the cricket.

  Wolf spiders hunt at night and have very good vision to see in the dark with all eight of their eyes. They are aggressive while hunting and eat mainly insects such as crickets, grubs, cockroaches and beetles, although they have been known to attack and kill small frogs as well. They are one of the few known spiders that actively look for and hunt down their meals instead of waiting for prey to become trapped within a web.

Reproduction and Young

• The mating ritual for a male Wolf spider is a bit tricky. Since he is smaller than the female, he will approach with some trepidation and weave his front legs together to signal his intent to reproduce. Further, the male will circle around the female in an intricate clapping dance in an effort to entice her consent. Once the female gives birth to spiderlings, they will climb up on her back and travel around with her.

Bites

• Wolf spiders generally are very timid and will scurry away when startled by a person. They do have venom and it is poisonous. Bite sites can become very irritated and redden, with deep swelling and sometimes intense pain. Some people recover quickly from bites while others can suffer severe pain for a matter of days. A 2004 survey showed that "the median duration of acute pain from wolf spider bites were 10 minutes." If pain persists, it is always a good idea to get the bite checked to be sure of the type of spider and follow through with any steps that should be taken.