Original illustration by PestControlBasics.com. Use anatomical labels above to confirm your identification.
Original illustration by PestControlBasics.com. Use anatomical labels above to confirm your identification.
Original illustration by PestControlBasics.com. Use anatomical labels above to confirm your identification.
Original illustration by PestControlBasics.com. Use anatomical labels above to confirm your identification.
Original illustration by PestControlBasics.com. Use anatomical labels above to confirm your identification.
Original illustration by PestControlBasics.com. Use anatomical labels above to confirm your identification.
🔍 Identification
Large: 10-35mm body, leg span up to 75mm. Hairy; brown to grey mottled pattern; two large eyes in the middle row (much larger than surrounding small eyes — distinctive). Fast runners that don't use webs — they actively chase prey. Common indoors and outdoors. Female carries egg sac attached to spinnerets and spiderlings on her back after hatching.
🧬 Biology & Behavior
Wolf spiders are ground-hunting predators — they don't build webs. They hunt insects, other spiders, and small invertebrates. They enter structures in fall seeking warmth, wandering across floors. They can't establish indoor populations without adequate prey. The mother carrying egg sac is a distinctive and sometimes alarming sight but is harmless.
⚠️ Damage & Health Risk
No structural damage, no food contamination, no disease. Wolf spider bites are possible if handled roughly — they cause localized pain, redness, and swelling that resolves within days. Not medically significant. Primarily a nuisance/fear pest.
🔧 DIY Treatment
Seal exterior entry points (door sweeps, gaps). Sticky trap monitors along baseboards detect and capture wandering spiders. Apply residual insecticide along exterior foundation in fall to reduce migration indoors. Reduce outdoor lighting that attracts prey insects (which attract wolf spiders).
👷 When to Call a Pro
Rarely warranted for wolf spiders alone. If part of a general large spider control program, perimeter treatment is effective.