What are Wolf Spiders? Wolf Spiders are ground-dwelling spiders found worldwide in various habitats. They are nocturnal hunters known for chasing down prey rather than building webs. Though generally not harmful to humans, they can bite if provoked.
What Attracts Wolf Spiders Indoors?
Wolf spiders enter homes through cracks and gaps, seeking food, mates, or shelter. They are drawn inside by insect infestations and lights left on at night. Open doors and windows also allow access. Outdoor harborage like woodpiles touching the home can attract the spiders and their prey.
How to Deter Wolf Spiders
Minimize outdoor lighting and insect infestations. Seal cracks and gaps in the home’s exterior. Install door sweeps and screens on windows and doors. Use glue boards or vacuum spiders instead of smashing them. Work with a pest control professional for serious infestations.
Why Not Kill Wolf Spiders?
Wolf spiders carry egg sacs on their backs. Killing them can cause the sac to rupture and spiderlings to spread. They also eliminate household pests, so should be removed without harm when possible.
What to do if you find a wolf spider in your house?
If you encounter a wolf spider in your home, trap it using glue boards and get rid of it. Glue boards are available at farm supply stores. Alternatively, trap it using a glass and paper and release it outside. If the infestation is serious, contact a pest control professional for treatment.
Just like stink bugs and spider crickets, wolf spiders are accidental intruders in homes. As summer transitions to autumn, cooling temperatures prompt them to seek cover and find mates, which leads them to discover cracks and holes in homes. A common entry point for the spider is under doors.
To get rid of wolf spiders seal up any cracks or openings, keep the house clean, and use a pesticide if necessary. Remove their food sources. Wolf spiders eat all the common insects that you will find around your home. Eliminate the insects around your home you need to first determine what type of insects are outdoors.
Use a broom or a vacuum to clean wolf spiders’ favorite hiding places – around doors and windows, closets, cellars, basements, in all kinds of cracks, and among houseplants. Block every entry point. Wolf spiders can get into your house through the smallest cracks and openings, so thoroughly check your house and close all the ways into your home.
Perform regular vacuuming and dusting to remove spiderwebs and prevent them from growing. Have your home spider-free by sharing these natural ways of with your friends and family.
What states are wolf spiders found?
Wolf spiders are common in the United States, especially Missouri, Texas, and California. The Kauai cave wolf spider lives in Hawaii’s Kauai Island caves. These spiders are eyeless and reddish-brown.
Nocturnal hunters, wolf spiders live in open grasslands, fields, backyards, wooded areas, wet forests, and along streams, lakes and marshes. They sometimes burrow underground.
Food availability affects wolf spider distribution. Forests have more insects so more wolf spiders. Grasslands and farms also have abundant food, supporting multiple wolf spider species. Deserts and arid areas offer less food, so fewer wolf spiders live there.
Wolf spiders live almost anywhere – cold mountains, lava tubes, deserts, rainforests, grasslands and lawns. There is likely one nearby.
Wolf spiders don’t often bite people. Their venom is not poisonous to humans. Their bites may be painful given their large size. Mild pain, swelling or itchiness around a bite should not last long.
Hogna carolinensis is the largest U.S. wolf spider. It is South Carolina’s state spider. Carolina wolf spiders can reach 1.5 inches long. Other Hogna species also live in the U.S.
Can a wolf spider jump?
Yes, wolf spiders can jump. They’ll pounce on prey. Afterward, they hold the prey, bite it, and inject venom. They can roll prey and swallow it whole. However, how far wolf spiders jump depends on species and size.
Moreover, some species may jump during ballooning, where the spider releases a web and is carried by wind. Wolf spiders won’t spin webs.
Wolf spiders will jump on hunting prey, but won’t jump high like some jumping spiders. Wolf spiders are very agile and chase targets like wolves. However, they won’t jump on humans. They’ll only jump on animals for food.
Wolf spiders will typically jump or pounce at predators. However, they’ll only do this as a last resort, preferring to run or hide.
Despite hunting abilities, wolf spiders have misconceptions, especially about jumping:
– They can jump to attack humans or pets
– All have jumping ability
– They’re aggressive and attack unprovoked
– They’re poisonous and threaten humans
Reasons people think they jump:
– Moving quickly seems like jumping
– Some spiders do jump, causing confusion
Larger wolf spiders can cover more distance jumping. A medium one may jump 4-5 inches. Larger ones could do 6-8 inches or more. Figures are estimates and vary.
Female wolf spiders carry egg sacs until hatching. Babies then climb on mom’s back for a week before leaving.
When hunting prey, a wolf spider will pounce on it. Distance depends on species. We’ll say it’s impressive. Fortunately, they don’t pounce on humans.