Creepy Crawlies Report

The name alone, Wolf spider, sounds ferocious but these solitary nocturnal creepy crawlies, while startling, are seldom dangerous, biting only when provoked. 

Known for their excellent eyesight and keen hunting abilities, Wolf spiders are members of the family Lycosidae, from the Ancient Greek word "λύκος" meaning "wolf" and can be found in a wide range of habitats ranging from shrub lands to woodlands, wet coastal forests to  alpine meadows, and even suburban gardens.

There are more than 2000 wolf spider species throughout the world with 125 in the United States. Large and hairy, they are usually patterned with a mixture of black, gray and brown allowing them to blend easily in to most landscapes. As with all spiders, they have eight legs, two body parts (cephalothorax and abdomen), and fang-like mouthparts called "chelicerae."  

Wolf spiders carry their egg sacs by attaching them to their spinnerets, the silk-spinning organ located on the underside of the abdomen.

Our west correspondent captured the incredible photo below of a pregnant female she found  around some shrubbery in the San Diego area.