Wonders of Wildlife: Carolina Wolf Spider

Carolina Wolf Spider

Other Common Names: Giant Carolina wolf spider

Scientific Name: Hogna carolinensis

Found in Alabama: Statewide

Diet: Carnivore (eats animals)

Carolina Wolf Spider in Habitat
Bugguide.net – Chao “Jimmy” Wu

Learn More About...

Classification

IDENTIFICATION

Adaptations

Life Cycle

Habitat Needs

Ecological Role

CLASSIFICATION

Scientists use basic traits to
group animals into different taxonomic
classes.

For a taxonomic classification chart comparing key traits of common backyard wildlife,
CLICK HERE!

What type of animal am I?

I am an invertebrate (an animal without a spine or backbone).
I am cold-blooded, so I cannot control my body temperature.
I have an exoskeleton (stiff covering) on the outside of my body.
I breathe through small holes in my abdomen called spiracles and through small openings in the abdomen called book lungs.
I have eight legs.

The Carolina Wolf Spider is an ARACHNID!

IDENTIFICATION TIPS

ADULT SPIDER

Around 1 inch in length
Grayish brown with dark stripe on center of abdomen (hind body segment)
Eight long, hairy legs
Eight dark eyes arranged in three rows (top two eyes are medium sized, two eyes in middle are larger, and bottom four eyes are small)

Carolina Wolf Spider
Wikimedia – Patrick Edwin Moran

Carolina Wolf Spider Face
Gregory Glasscock

Alabama’s Spiders

Alabama is home to over 500 species of spiders.
Only three of these can be dangerous if they bite you.

Southern Black Widow

Black with red hourglass shape on its abdomen or back

Northern Black Widow

Black with “broken” red hourglass shape on its abdomen or back

Brown Recluse

Light brown with long, thin legs

PHYSICAL AND BEHAVIORAL ADAPTATIONS

PHYSICAL ADAPTATIONS

Carolina wolf spiders avoid detection:

The drab gray-brown coloration of the Carolina wolf spider helps it camouflage (blend in with its surroundings).
This camouflage makes it easiter to avoid being seen by a predator (an animal that eats them).
They are also extrememly sensitive to vibrations in the ground, allowing them to detect if a threat is nearby which gives them an opportunity to escape into a burrow.

Carolina wolf spiders are excellent hunters:

Carolina wolf spiders do not use a web to capture their prey.
Instead, they have several adaptations that allow them to easily chase down prey.
They rely on quick speed and excellent eyesight to help them capture their prey.
They also use their pedipalps (small front legs) to catch their prey.

Carolina Wolf Spider Eating Roach
Flickr – StevenW12339

BEHAVIORAL ADAPTATIONS

Carolina wolf spiders are nocturnal:

They are active during the night (nocturnal).

Carolina wolf spiders provide parental care to their offspring:

Female Carolina wolf spiders carry their egg sac around with them at all times.
When the young are ready to hatch, the mother assists in the process.
The babies crawl on to the female’s back and remain with her for about a week until they are ready to provide for themselves.

LIFE CYCLE

Life Cycle Stages of the Carolina Wolf Spider

Eggs:

Females make a silk mat on the ground where she deposits 90-190 soft-shelled eggs (average ove 150 eggs).
She attaches the silk sac to her abdomen and carries the eggs around with her.

Young:

After hatching, the young climb on to the mother’s back where they will stay for around 11-14 days until they are able to hunt on their own.
Young look similar to the adults.

Life Span:

Females can live up to three years.
Males do not live as long and may only live up to a year.

Carolina Wolf Spider Carrying Babies
Flickr – p.sparrow

HABITAT NEEDS

Natural Habitat Needs	Adults	Young
Food	Carolina wolf spiders are carniovres (eat animals). They feed on ground-dwelling insects including beetles, grasshoppers, cockroaches, and other spiders.	The young remain on mother’s back and rely on stored fat until they are able to hunt on their own (up to two weeks after hatching).
Water	Hydration is obtained through the animals they eat. They will collect water from plants that hold moisture such as mosses.
Shelter	Hide in vegetThey create burrows in open areas in a variety of habitats including fields, meadows, and forests. They are likely to take shelter under a rock during the day.ation around water source or underwater.	The young remain on mother’s back for up to two weeks until they are able to move around on their own.
Places to Raise Young	Females use a small patch of soil on which they construct a silk mat where she will lay her eggs. She then carries the eggs and eventually babies on her body until they are independent.

If you want to offer resources in your backyard habitat for this species, consider the suggestions below.

Backyard Habitat Needs	Adults	Young
Food	Provide open grassy areas to support ground-dwelling insects. Do not remove decaying logs. Plant native plants, shrubs, and trees. Do not spray pesticides that might harm insect populations.	Providing food for adults indirectly supports the young.
Water	Provide plants that hold moisture such as mosses.
Shelter	Provide open grassy areas and some rocks to offer opportunities for burrows and places to hide during the day.	Providing shelter for adults indirectly supports the young.
Places to Raise Young	Provide suitable habitat and shelter (see above), as females carry their eggs and young with them.

ECOLOGICAL ROLE

Animals play an important ecological role in the health of habitats and ecosystems.

Food Source:

Carolina wolf spiders are a food source for a variety of animals including other spiders, wasps, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

Insect Population Control:

Because wolf spiders are effective hunters and can be numerous in a given area, they help control populations of the ground-dwelling insects on which they feed.

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