· The name “wolf spider” encompasses a
large family of spiders, most of which are large, dark-coloured and
athletic. Unlike most spiders that catch their prey in webs, Wolf Spiders violently hunt it down using their strong bodies and sharp
eyesight. These spiders also exhibit unique parenting habits that are of great
interest to scientists.
· Wolf spiders live
almost everywhere in the world, according to the Bio Kids. They are especially common in grasslands and
meadows, but also live in mountains, deserts, rainforest's and wetlands —
anywhere they can find insects to eat.
· Wolf spiders are
usually brown, grey, and black or tan, with dark markings — most commonly
stripes, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation. Their
colouring is effective camouflage, helping them catch their prey and keep safe
from predators. They range from a quarter of an inch to over an inch (6.4
millimetres to 3 centimetres) long, with males typically smaller than females.
· According to the Pennsylvania State University of Entomology Department, wolf spiders will bite when threatened but their venom is
not very harmful to humans. Human victims may exhibit some redness or swelling
but no serious medical problems have ever been reported.
·
Wolf spiders are
solitary creatures that roam alone in the night, stalking prey. According to
Sewlal, they are “mostly nocturnal and often mistaken for tarantulas.”
According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, they typically live on
the ground, though some are known to climb partly up trees to catch their prey.
Some species hide in vegetation or leaf litter, while others dig tunnels or use
other animals’ tunnels. Some Wolf spider hunt in
a set territory and return to a specific place to feed, while
others wander nomadically with no territory or home.
·
Wolf spider eat mostly ground-dwelling insects and
other spiders. Especially large females may eat small vertebrates, according to
Bio Kids. Some species chase down and grab their prey, while others wait for it
to walk by and ambush it. Wolf spider often
jump on their prey, hold it between their legs and roll over on their backs,
trapping their prey with their limbs before biting it.