Wolf Spider

Natural Habitat

Wolf spiders are ground dwellers and prefer to live in grassy areas, gardens, leaf litter, under rocks, logs, or in burrows. They are often found in homes, especially in basements or ground-level rooms, as they wander in looking for prey or shelter.

Diet & Feeding

Wolf spiders are predatory hunters, primarily feeding on insects and other small invertebrates. They do not spin webs to catch prey but actively hunt them down on the ground. Their diet can include crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, and other spiders.

Behavior Patterns

These are solitary, nocturnal hunters. Unlike most spiders, they do not build webs for catching prey but instead rely on their excellent eyesight and speed to ambush or chase down their meals. Females are known for their distinctive maternal care, carrying their egg sacs attached to their spinnerets and later carrying their young spiderlings on their back.

Risks & Benefits

Wolf spiders are generally not aggressive towards humans, but they can bite if they feel provoked or trapped. Their bite is usually not medically significant, often compared to a bee sting, causing mild pain, redness, and swelling. They are beneficial in gardens and ecosystems as natural pest controllers, preying on various insect pests.

Identified on: 9/19/2025