Description

Wolf spiders have a stout, heavy body shape, and fat legs. They are usually brown in color and may have white stripes.

Size may vary from 1/2 inch to 1-1/2 inches.

There are eight well developed eyes, placed in a distinct pattern. There is a row of four small eyes. There are two large eyes above the four small eyes. Two more smaller eyes look straight upward.

Habitat

Wolf Spiders are found on the ground in open fields throughout the United States and southern Canada.

Many Wolf Spiders are diurnal, meaning that they are active and hunt for prey during the day. Often they are found resting under leaves or stones.

However, some species dig a burrow, line it with silk, and lurk there during the day waiting for prey to pass close, and actively hunt at night (nocturnal).

Food

Wolf Spiders don't spin webs to catch their prey. Rather, they are hunters that run down their prey and capture it, just like a real wolf.

Wolf Spiders have good eyesight compared to other spiders. The wolf spider can run fast and quickly pounce on its prey, and bite it with its powerful jaws.

The Wolf Spider eats many kinds of small insects, including crickets, grasshoppers, earwigs, flies, and ants.

Watch a Wolf Spider attack and eat an earwig!

Defense

The brown coloration helps these spiders blend in with the environment. They hide under stones and leaves for protection.

Some dig deep burrows with the entrances camouflaged with sticks and twigs.

This spider is keen sighted so that it can successfully stalk its prey. It is also very sensitive to vibrations.