Texas wolf spider size. Texas is home to challenges ranging from poisonous snake species to scorpions and a variety of spider species. Next up is the wolf spider, which adds to the predators’ already fearsome look.
Is it safe to be a wolf spider in Texas? How much do they grow? Keep reading to learn more about wolf spiders in Texas, including how they are distributed and identified.
What is TEXAS WOLF SPIDERS?
Rabidosa rabida is a wolf spider that can be found in Texas. These spiders may be seen scurrying around inside houses on occasion. Cotton fields, wooded areas, and the spaces under rocks, shrubs, trash, and wreckage are also home to wolf spiders.
With stripes down their abdomen and cephalothorax, these wolf spiders are dark brown in color. Front legs look darker than the remainder of their legs, which may vary in color.
Females may reach a length of 20 mm, while males are only up to 13 mm long.
Males of the wolf spider place sperm in silken balls that they spin. Females use these silken masses to get insemination, which they attach to themselves.
Before they are fertilized, arachnids like wolf spiders perform a series of mating dances. Egg sacs are initially white, but mature to a dark brown color.
Until they are about a month old, newly hatched spiders stay with the female. They disperse and go hunting for themselves at that time.
There are 238 different wolf spiders species in Texas! The following are five of the most frequent:
-Carolina wolf spider (Hogna carolinensis)
-Rabid wolf spider (Rabidosa rabida)
-Santa Rosa wolf spider (Arctosa sanctaerosae)
-Field wolf spider (Hogna lenta)
-Wetland giant wolf spider (Tigrosa helluo).
The methods used by wolf spiders to hunt earned them their reputation. They act more like wolves than other spiders, rather than weaving webs.
These either lurk in dark areas or pursue their prey with long, powerful legs. In contrast to wolves, they inject venom into their victims, which causes their organs to melt. The insides are then sucked out like juice.
Throw in the fact that wolf spiders have hairy bodies, and you’ve got a recipe for terror.
Mating behavior
Courtship behaviors and extra sexual features, such as tufts of bristles on their legs or specific colors that are more usually seen on the males of the species, are exhibited by several wolf spiders species.
First-leg modifications include elongated bristles on the legs, leg swelling, or complete extension of the first pair of legs in comparison to the other three pairs.
These sexual characteristics vary by species and are most often seen as variations of the first pair of legs.
Many wolf spider genera have similar mating habits, and some have unique ones depending on the species.
Researchers discovered that all males in the most often investigated genus of wolf spiders, Schizocosa, participate in a seismic component of their courting performance, such as stridulation or drumming their fore legs on the ground; however, some species also depend on visual information in their courting performance, such as spreading the front two legs in front of the female.
When it comes to finding mates, population density and male-to-female sex ratio put selective pressures on wolf spiders, which are mostly wandering spiders.
The following male that attempts to mate with a female wolf spider is more likely to be eaten than the next male who hasn’t yet mated.
Females who have already mated have a lower chance of mating again, however males who have already mated have a greater chance of mating again.
How to Identify Texas Wolf Spiders
It’s difficult to tell wolf spiders apart from one another in Texas. The majority of the varieties are similar in appearance, with color or size differences being the only exception.
They’re often confused with tarantulas, which live in Texas as well.
Wolf spiders have extremely thick bodies with lengthy legs and a lot of hair, although they are not as stocky as tarantulas.
Their mouth appendages are huge and provide a big bite. Black, brown, and grey are the hues available, with tan or light orange markings thrown in for good measure.
Are Wolf Spiders In Texas Venomous?
Wolf spiders are frightening, but they are not harmful to us. They’re going to bite, so don’t try to touch them.
Wolf spider bites are similar to bug bites in appearance. A little red irritated bump that is slightly puffy and heals in a few days is called a micropapule.
It’s difficult to tell what bit you unless you can identify the spider that bit you.
The venom allergy is possible for some individuals. If you notice a red line extending from the bite, the bump grows in size, you experience facial swelling or difficulty with breathing, or you notice dizziness, go to the doctor right away.
The treatment for a wolf spider bite is the same as for any other bug. To decrease the chance of infection, wash the bite area with warm water and soap.
To help reduce the possibility of infection, apply a bandage to the bite area.
Take an antihistamine to relieve the itching and discomfort if it starts to bother you.
Why do I have a wolf spider problem?
Wolf spiders are more common outside than indoors. While hunting for insects to eat, however, they frequently find their way into homes, garages, barns, and sheds.
Wolf spiders may be found burrowing beneath rock mounds, woodpiles, fallen trees, leaf and grass mounds, and landscaping timbers while out of doors.
These spiders spend the day sleeping in their burrows, waiting for unsuspecting prey to walk by.
Wolf spiders hide out under furniture, in closets, boxes, crawl spaces, and basement areas when they have invaded homes and other buildings.
You don’t just have a spider infestation on your hands if wolf spiders are present on your property or inside your home. Most likely, the insects that those wolf spiders like to feed on are also present in your home or yard.
Where Are Texas Wolf Spiders Found?
The abundance of spiders in Texas worries the people who live there, which is understandable. While these arachnids particularly like Texas’ drier, sandier places, no part of the state is off-limits.
They also act as household and garden pests, making their presence known. They’re often discovered in dark nooks and tall grass around the home by residents.
Wolf spiders leave behind silken trails that other wolf spiders may follow in order to locate them. This method is occasionally used by males to track down females for copulation!
There could be more than one wolf spider in the area if there is a dragline surrounding a home or garden.
Excellent Hunters
Because wolf spiders are keen hunters that pursue or pounce on prey like wolves rather than build a web and wait for a meal, the Latin name “Lycos” means “wolf.”
Wolf spiders are solitary creatures that hunt in packs, unlike wolves. Both day and night hunting is allowed.
With three rows of eight eyes, wolf spiders have exceptional vision. Wolf spiders are easily distinguished from other spider species by two large eyes in the middle row.
Catch the glimmer of spider eyeshine as the light reflects back to you from their big eyes by pointing a flashlight towards your face and shining it along the ground at night.
Their bodies are covered in hairs, which give them an enhanced tactile sensitivity to detect and capture prey. Their large, powerful legs allow them to pursue and capture prey at distances of up to two feet per second.
Wolf spiders, on the other hand, prey on insects like crickets, cockroaches, mealworms, and beetles that some individuals may consider nuisances.
What Do Texas Wolf Spiders Eat?
Wolf spiders are insect eaters, which is great news! Texans might want to rethink exterminating wolf spiders in their houses since Texas has a greater variety of insects than any other area in the US.
Ants, flies, earwigs, roaches, crickets, grasshoppers, centipedes and millipedes are among the insects that these hairy arachnids prefer.
They might even assault tiny reptiles and amphibians if they’re really hungry and have the opportunity! They may also be a effective type of pest control since they consume insect eggs.
Their looks are worse than their bite
Wolf spiders are large, and their appearance can be frightening, yet these spiders prefer to hunt alone rather than in company.
Wolf spiders bite people when they are unable to get away, but they do it as a last resort. Mild pain, swelling, and itchiness around the bite might occur.
Thankfully, a bite feels typically only minutes long and is caused by the teeth rather than the venom.
Wolf spiders are beneficial predators on the quest for insects in your yard and house, despite their huge size and hairy look.
What Should I Do If I See A Texas Wolf Spider?
In Texas, how likely are you to encounter a wolf spider? “You’re never more than five feet from a spider,” according to an old saying.
The fact remains that spiders may be found all around us, and Texas alone has 238 species of wolf spiders. That implies there are a lot of spiders on your lawn!
The unique eye arrangement of a wolf spider is its most prominent feature. Four little eyes of similar size are arranged in a straight row in the front (or anterior) row.
Two larger eyes are positioned above that row, while two smaller eyes are positioned below the middle row. There are eight eyes on this spider.
The two, pointed horizontal fangs at the bottom of this spider’s jaws are another noteworthy feature of its physical appearance. The spider’s prey is held, venom is injected, and food is consumed using its jaws, also known as chelicerae.
The wolf spider has a two-segmented body with eight legs, similar to other spider species.
The animal has dark stripes that resemble stripes and can be brown, gray, black, or tan in color. Their coloring is effective camouflage because they’re nocturnal creatures.
How To Prevent Wolf Spiders From Entering Your Home
Wolf spiders, like most tiny insects, sneak into your house via tiny cracks and openings in the exterior. If they’re already inside, here are a few ways to discourage them from entering and a few things you can do to make them feel unwelcome:
Seal off little apertures in the exterior of your house with weatherstripping, caulk, or any other technique available.
Wolf spiders like to hide in high grass and plants, so keep your grass and bushes neat. Try to keep your lawn less spider-friendly by keeping your grass and flowers trimmed.
Wolf spiders prefer to live in peace and quiet. Disrupt them! You’ll make sure they don’t get too comfortable by vacuuming, sweeping, or dusting secluded areas.
You’ll limit the number of probable hiding places for these buggers to call home by obliterating possible hiding places using old boxes and clearing clutter.
Summary
Wolf spiders are non-aggressive and do not pose a danger to people because of their gigantic size, hairy bodies, and quick speed.
If they are discovered, most people remove them by simply sweeping them out of the dwelling, as most wolf spiders are looking for food or a partner and enter by mistake.
Don’t irritate the spider, because they’ll bite you as a last resort, causing excruciating pain.