How to Identify a Wolf Spider

Co-authored by Shweta Sharma

Last Updated: November 10, 2024 Fact Checked

Wolf spiders don't fit the traditional spider archetype. They don’t spin webs and don't catch their prey in them; instead, they stalk and hunt their prey - just as wolves do. Although it's true that wolf spiders look very similar to Tarantulas, wolf spiders are generally smaller and from a different family of spider. The scientific name for wolf spiders is Lycosidae (Greek for “wolf.”)

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Identifying a Wolf Spider

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Here are some key characteristics: Hairy, brown to gray in color with various markings or lines, females are 1-3/8” (3 4mm) and males are 3/4" (19 mm) long.^{[1]
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Their eyes comprise three rows; the first row has four small eyes; the second row has two larger eyes and the third row has two medium-sized eyes. The two eyes in the center of their faces are distinctively larger than the other six eyes.

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A tarsal is the final segment of an insect's leg.^{[2]
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Go to source} In the wolf spider's case there are three claws at the end of them.
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Look at the arrangement of the fangs. Wolf spiders have fangs that resemble pincers, with a side-to-side orientation. However, this is true of all species within the infraorder Araneomorphae, of which the wolf spider is a member. The infraorder Araneomorphae contains a vast number of species that as a group are known as "true spiders", so the fang orientation is not exclusive to wolf spiders.^{[3]
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- However, this may be helpful in distinguishing a wolf spider from a small tarantula, because tarantulas are a member of infra-order Mygalomorphae and have vertically-oriented fangs.
The wolf spider has the same brownish-grey coloration, but does not have the violin-shaped marking behind its head that a brown recluse has. Also, the wolf spider has shorter legs than the brown recluse or any other web dwelling spider.
^{[4]
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Research source}This is why you may confuse the wolf spider with a Tarantula, but most wolf spiders are a great deal smaller than most Tarantulas.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Recognizing Wolf Spider Habitats

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^{[5]
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Research source} Examine the areas around your doors and windows, both around your house and any outbuildings you may have. If, you find one moving towards a burrow or crevice, instead of a web, that's further evidence that it's a wolf spider. However, the tarantulas and the trap doors also burrow, though they are usually quite a bit larger than the wolf spider.
Spiders that spin webs will rarely be found on the ground. Wolf spiders are very comfortable there and will rarely climb tall structures.^{[6]
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Look for a white sack attached to the back of the abdomen in the early spring and summer. Female wolf spiders carry their eggs at the back of their abdomens.^{[7]
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This is a trait unique to wolf spiders.
You'll notice that most of the wolf spider's prey (crickets, caterpillars, etc.) can be found out at day and night, as well. If you have a lot these bugs around, you can expect to find a wolf spider nearby.^{[8]
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Wolf spiders are incredibly fast. They are hard to catch due to their extreme speeds.^{[9]
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Should I leave wolf spiders alone?

Shweta Sharma
Biologist
Shweta Sharma is a Biologist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). With nearly ten years of experience, she specializes in insect management, integrated pest management, insect behavior, resistance management, ecology, and biological control. She earned her PhD in Urban Entomology and her MS in Environmental Horticulture from the University of Florida. She also holds a BS in Agriculture from the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences, Nepal.

Shweta Sharma

Biologist

Expert Answer

Yeah, you should. They are not dangerous, so there's no need to handle them.

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Can a wolf spider kill you?

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While a person with a strong allergy to wolf spider venom might have a strong reaction, being bitten usually results in minor pain and itchiness that does not require any treatment. It does not appear that there are records of a person ever dying from a wolf spider bite.

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Are wolf spiders dangerous to humans?

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Wolf spiders can give a bite that can be painful and itchy, but almost never very dangerous unless the person has an allergy to the venom or a weak immune system. See a doctor immediately if you notice symptoms like dizziness, nausea or a rapid heartbeat. However, wolf spiders are not aggressive at all and only bite when provoked.

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Wolf spiders typically live for about two years, and are preyed on by hunting wasps.

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You can control the wolf spider population around your home if you keep your grass cut low and your shrubbery well trimmed. It’s also wise to keep piles of rocks or lumber on your property to a minimum.

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It will be helpful to have magnifying glass handy to look at the wolf spider.

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Wolf spiders may bite you if they think they're going to get squished. I've held plenty of wolf spiders with no problem, though. Just make sure you aren't being too assertive, and try to be gentle.
The wolf spider is venomous, but their venom is on the weak side.

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Warnings

If you have a weak or half dead wolf spider in a container, you shouldn't give it any insects that can fight back such as live ants for food.

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While the wolf spider is venomous, avoid killing wolf spiders; their venom will barely have an effect on you if you manage to get bitten but they are not aggressive. In fact, because they eat so many harmful insects, they are critically important to the ecosystem.

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Do not handle wolf spiders. Although the wolf spider is relatively calm species of spider, it has been known to bite. Their bite has been known to be quite painful.

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