What About Wolf Spiders?
There is hardly any homeowner who has not seen a creepy, eight-legged spider in their house. Almost all of us are aware of the disgust and fear we feel when we encounter these insects. There are many types of spiders found in homes around the world. One such spider species is wolf spiders. The wolf spiders are pretty common in the US, where more than 125 species have been identified.
Wolf spiders belong to the Lycosidae family of spiders. They get their name after the method of hunting they use to hunt down their prey in groups, like a wolf. Unlike other spider species, they don’t hunt with webs.
Characteristics
Wolf spiders are commonly found in black, brown, or gray hues and range from about half an inch to 2 inches in length. They are large, hairy, and have eight eyes set in three different rows forming a distinctive pattern. They have excellent eyesight, and their eyes glow when lights hit them. They can also see in all four directions at once, but their eyes are fixed. They often have stripes on their back, giving them a camouflaged look. Eight long, hairy legs help them run fast. They also have two sharp horizontal fangs extending out front. Female spiders carry their eggs with them, and each egg sack can contain 168-365 eggs that hatch in spring. When the eggs hatch, spiderlings climb on their mother’s back and remain there until they are ready to be on their own.
Habits
Wolf spiders are nocturnal, they hunt actively during the night and rest during the day. They are generally not aggressive and are considered harmless to humans. They are not poisonous but have some venom stored in their body, which they will inject only when provoked.
Habitat
Wolf spiders prefer a warmer climate and can live just about anywhere. Outdoor, they are likely to be seen on the grasslands, backyards, vegetation along lakes and streams, under woodpiles, stones, or ground clutter. In the home, you can see them around doors, windows, garages, and house plants.
Diet
Wolf spiders are predators and prefer mealworms, mosquitoes, ants, worms, crickets, moths, and grasshoppers.
Prevention and control
Wolf spiders usually find their way into your home through cracks, crevices, or openings around doors and windows. Some ways to control the spiders in your home are:
Baby spiderlings enjoying the ride on their mother’s back. Don’t try to squish her, as the spiderlings will scatter everywhere, multiplying the problem.
Clean and vacuum house regularly
Remove debris, firewood, and other building materials
Block their entry points by sealing cracks and gaps around doors and windows
Remove clutter from the undisturbed places
Seeing a wolf spider in the home can be terrifying for a homeowner. If you come across a wolf spider in your home, you will surely want to get rid of it. Never squish a wolf spider, as if it is a female, it will have spiderlings on her back and squishing it will send spiderlings everywhere in the house. A good and effective way to catch wolf spiders is spider glue traps. You can place these traps along the possible spider wandering places. Call a pest control service to control the infestation and make your home free from creepy, crawly wolf spiders.
Kinder Safe Pest Solutions offers 17 years of experience in commercial and residential pest control serving Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Hillsborough, and Pinellas Counties. Call (941)254-2180 today!