Spiders are insect relatives. These abundant and important predators have eight walking legs, six to eight eyes, and two body regions. The first body segment, called the prosoma, contains the eyes, mouthparts, and legs. The second region is the abdomen, which has spinnerets at its base that produce silk.
Wolf spiders are typically black, brown, or gray and often have one or more light stripes on their prosoma and / or abdomen. They hunt for prey along the ground and do not make webs. At night, their eyes will reflect back light if a light is shined at them.
The female attaches the egg sac to her abdomen and carries it until the eggs hatch, at which point many of the spiderlings are carried around on the top of the abdomen. Spiders can overwinter either as subadults or adults.
Various insects and other spiders.
These spiders are mostly found on the ground around sticks, stones, plants, and other debris. These spiders will give short chase or ambush prey.
Spiders in this family are not known to feed on pollen or nectar.
Most states coast to coast between Canada and Mexico.
Native.
Very Common.
6-20 mm.
Brown, tan, black.