Tiile : Wolf Spider

Scientific name:  Lycosidae

English:  Wolf Spider

Description:

# Wolf spiders are members of the family Lycosidae, from the Ancient Greek word Lycos meaning "wolf".

#  They are robust and agile hunters with excellent eyesight. They live mostly in solitude and hunt alone, and do not spin webs.

# Because they depend on camouflage for protection, they do not have the flashy appearance of some other kinds of spiders. In general, their coloration is appropriate to their favorite habitat.

Habitat:

# Wolf spiders are found in a wide range of habitats both coastal and inland. These include shrublands, woodland, wet coastal forest, alpine meadows, suburban gardens, and homes.

# Most are wanderers without permanent homes. Some build burrows which can be left open or have a trap door (depending on species). Often they are found in man-made locations such as sheds and other outdoor equipment.

Behavior:

# Wolf spiders are unique in the way that they carry their eggs. The egg sac, a round, silken globe, is attached to the spinnerets at the end of the abdomen, allowing the spider to carry her unborn young with her.

# The abdomen must be held in a raised position to keep the egg case from dragging on the ground. However, despite this handicap, they are still capable of hunting.

# Another aspect unique to wolf spiders is their method of care of young. Immediately after the spider lings emerge from their protective silken case, they clamber up their mother's legs and crowd onto the dorsal side of her abdomen.

# The mother carries the spider lings for several weeks before they are large enough to disperse and fend for themselves.

# No other spiders are currently known to carry their young on their backs for any period of time.

# Because they depend on camouflage for protection, they do not have the flashy appearance of some other kinds of spiders. In general, their coloration is appropriate to their favorite habitat.

# Wolf spiders play an important role in natural population control of insects, and are often considered "beneficial bugs" due to their predation of pest species within farms and gardens.