Wolf Spiders
Common fox spider (Alopecosa pulverulenta)
Web: wolf spiders don’t make a catching web, but are active hunters that use their legs and jaws to immobilize prey.
Habitat: Occurs in open habitas such as gardens, grassland clearings in woodland,… . Can be frequent.
How to recognize:
- cephalothorax (dark)brown, with a lighter midstripe
- abdomen yellowish red to olive green, with clearly marked cardiac mark.
- legs yellow/red, darkly annulated
- ♂: darker colour, strong contrast between light midstripe and darker areas of the cephalothorax .
Looks similar to:
- several other wolf spiders. Investigating the reproductive structures using a stereomicroscope gives a definitive identification.
Size
♀: 5-8 mm
♂: 6,5-11 mm
When?
♀: April till July
♂: April till July
Ground wolf spider (Trochosa terricola)
Web: Wolf spiders don’t make a catching web, but are active hunters that use their legs and jaws to immobilize prey. The Ground wolf spider hunts predominantly during the night.
Habitat: underneath rocks, litter, moss, in humid areas.
How to recognize:
- big, robust wolf spider
- cephalothorax with typical light midband, with two dark stripes in the widened part
- abdomen with cardiac mark that ususally doesn’t clearly stand out against the rest of the abdomen.
Looks similar to:
- the three other Trochosa species in Belgium. The differences in the markings of the cardiac mark are not a reliable determination characteristic. Investigating the reproductive structures using a stereomicroscope gives a definitive identification.
Size
♀: 7-14 mm
♂: 7-9 mm
When?
♀: throughout the year
♂: throughout the year
Pirate otter spider (Pirata piraticus)
Web: wolf spiders don’t make a catching web, but are active hunters that use their legs and jaws to immobilize prey.
Habitat: occur in water-rich habitats such as around stagnant water (ponds, small lakes) and slow-running water (streams,… ) or at least in a moist environment (eg wet meadows).
How to recognize:
- cephalothorax usually with a white border
- abdomen with a white line (sometimes interrupted) along the cardiac mark.
- legs light to dark green.
Looks similar to:
- other Pirata species. The white markings (line) along the cardiac mark are reasonably reliable, but can sometimes be missing. That is why investigating the reproductive structures using a stereomicroscope gives a definitive identification.
Size
♀: 4,5-9 mm
♂: 4-6,5 mm
When?
♀: May till August/September
♂: May till August/September
Spotted wolf spider (Pardosa amentata)
Web: wolf spiders don’t make a catching web, but are active hunters that use their legs and jaws to immobilize prey. The Spotted wolf spider hunts predominantly during the day.
Habitat: occurs in open habitat such as parcs, gardens, fields,… Mostly in rather humid conditions. Can be very frequent.
How to recognize:
- cephalothorax (dark)brown, with a lighter midstripe that is often “chalice-shaped” in front
- abdomen dark with an unclear drawing, but often two dark spots stand out
- legs yellow/dark annulated
- ♂: darker colour, with palps almost black.
Looks similar to:
- several other Pardosa species. That is why investigating the reproductive structures using a stereomicroscope gives a definitive identification.
Size
♀: 5,5-8 mm
♂: 5-6,5 mm
When?
♀: April till July
♂: April till July
