The Lycosidae, commonly called wolf spiders are a family of hunter spiders found throughout the United States and the rest of the world.
There are many species of the Wolf Spider in North America, many of which look very similar. Twice in the past I asked an entomologist (both times were different entomologists) to help me identify the different Wolf Spiders that have been sent to me. Both times, they turned me down for the same reason. It is simply too hard to identify the different species of Wolf Spiders without putting the spider under the microscope to look at the genitalia.
So I learned not to try to do this myself. The information listed is for the Wolf Spider in general and not for any particular species.
A common species of the Wolf Spider is very similar to the common American Grass Spider or the Nursery Web Spider. They often do not have quite the same striping but the best way to tell them apart is by the eye pattern as described below.
Description
The descriptions change from one wolf spider to another, but there are some more common characteristics. The general shape is of a thick set spider with thicker legs meant for walking, rather than hanging in webs.
The best way for the common person to recognize a Wolf Spider is by the eyes. Wolf Spiders have a horizontal row of four smaller eyes. Above those four eyes, is a pair of larger eyes, and above those, is another pair of smaller eyes.
Size
The Wolf Spider can come in all sizes. There are some you will see running around in grass that are only about 3/8” (10 mm), while some species of the Wolf Spider reaches up to around 3” (76 mm). (These sizes include the legs)
Web
The Wolf Spider is a hunting spider and will wander in search of its prey. They usually do not spin webs like most spiders do. Though they have the ability to, they often only do so to attach their eggs to their abdomen and carry them around. Once the babies hatch, they will continue to ride around on the mother’s back until they are large enough to fend for themselves.
Bites
The bite from a Wolf Spider can cause some pain, redness and swelling. In some cases, swollen Lymph glands may occur and the skin area at the bite can turn black. Swelling and Pain can last up to 10 days. On a very rare occasion, a bite can cause necrotic lesions similar to the Recluse or Hobo Spider (Neither of which is in Michigan) but nowhere as severe.
The Wolf Spider has a reputation as a dangerous spider that is not deserved and is listed as a low risk danger. They are also one of the more common spiders in the United States. In the fall time, males will wander in search for a mate and sometimes be drawn to the warmer temperatures of our homes. Because of this, it is not uncommon to find them running across our floors during Fall.
Lycosidae Scientific Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Chelicerata
- Class: Arachnida
- Order: Araneae
- Infraorder: Araneomorphae
- Family: Lycosoidea
- Genus: Lycosidae
Distribution of wolf spiders in the USA
Various wolf spider species can be found throughout the United States: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Pictures of North American wolf spiders
In my basement in Roanoke VA. I live in a forested area at the top of one of the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains but not near any water.
Hello Susan, thank you for getting in touch. This is most definitely a Tigrosa wolf spider. I’ve moved your ID request to the wolf spider information page. Their bite is not medically significant for humans (more like a bee sting) and they are generally not aggressive. These spiders can safely be relocated and don’t need to be sprayed.
Let us know if you have any further questions.
Best,
USAspiders
Next to my front door October 2nd central Virginia
Found 2:00 am in bathroom. Great, cannot get to sleep! :o(
Hello Maryrose,
Thank you for getting in touch. This is almost certainly some species of wolf spider. It’s hard to make out any specific markings on the photo. Wolf spiders are harmless spiders and great for insect control: http://usaspiders.com/lycosidae-wolf-spider/
I live in wv. Foubd thus spider in my living room. What kind is it?
Hello Michelle, it’s hard to make an ID based on this picture since it’s not possible to see any identifiying marks on the body. It is definitely not a medically significant spider (not a widow or recluse spider). My best uess would be that this is some sort of wolf spider: http://usaspiders.com/lycosidae-wolf-spider/
Hi! I believe this is a (rather large) wolf spider but would like confirmation. It was outside near an outlet we have our Halloween lights plugged into. It certainly fits in well with our decorations!
Located in Midlothian, Virginia
Hello Bryant,
Yes, this is a wolf spider. A great and harmless Halloween decoration 🙂
Found in basement October 24 in New York.
Found it dead in our basement today in Richmond, Virginia, covered in webbing. It is hairy. Its body is about 1” without its legs measured.
Hi CG,
This is a dead wolf spider:
https://usaspiders.com/lycosidae-wolf-spider/
Not a medical concern.
Thank you! I kinda thought so. I should have kept the molt. How exciting!
I bonded with this gorgeous arachnid in my garage one night. The next night I found another slightly smaller spider next her (?), dead. After watching her for another day, I cupped her and placed her in a vine outside. I’ve been looking for her identity ever since. She was a light brown/tan, big, sturdy, but graceful, with a dark, broadly striped carapace and abdomen. Smooth, rangy, muscular legs. A real beauty.
In massachusetts found this in the kitchen , the day before one in the living room I’m guessing a juvenile wolf spider?
Hi Frank, thanks for getting in touch! This is not a wolf spider. It’s a male Coras sp. funnel-weaving spider of the family Agelenidae. It’s not medically significant.
This spider is 2.5-3cm in length and was seen in my garage in Jersey City, NJ. Feel free to use the pic and inform me what species it may be!
Thanks,
Jerry Piven, PhD
Rutgers University
Hello Jerry, thanks for uploading the picture. It’s a bit hard to tell from the angle and with the strong contrasts. Based on the picture, it looks like a male wolf spider to me.
I can tell with certainty that this is not a medically significant spider.
I keep periodically finding these spiders in my basement in Massachusetts. They’re large, 1 to 1.5 inches long (including legs). I’ve never seen one in a web, but crawling on the walls or out from under the floor trim. I think maybe a type of wolf spider?
usaspiders
Thanks for the reply,my wife and I are glad it’s not a wolf spider or medically significant.
Much appreciated
Frank D
Haughton Louisiana
Hi Eugene,
This is a wolf spider. They are not medically significant:
https://usaspiders.com/lycosidae-wolf-spider/
Best regards
Michael
Hello!
I found this spider on its back in my basement in northern Virginia. I’m pretty sure it was dead when I found it.
Is this a wolf spider?
It’s the largest I’ve ever seen other than a pet tarantula. The main body is about an inch long. We just moved here from a much more urban area and now we are close to woods and the Occoquan River.
Thanks!
Steve
Hello Steve, thanks for getting in touch!
It’s hard to tell with certainty with the picture showing the underside of the spider. It might be a wolf spider but it could also be a female southern house spider: https://usaspiders.com/kukulcania-hibernalis-southern-house-spider/
They look quite distinctive on the upper side.