Wolf Spider and Nest

While roaming the wilds of Guilford, CT on Wednesday, I chanced upon a large brown spider on the side of the trail through the woodland habitat. As I approached with my kill jar at the ready, the spider scurried into a curled, desiccated leaf. I was able to capture it, and with the help of a wise entomologist named Ray, identified it as a wolf spider (family Lycosidae).

Wolf spiders are so named because they were once falsely believed to hunt prey in packs. They are, however, active hunters: rather than build a web and wait to entrap prey, they hunt on the move, using excellent eyesight to outpace a variety of critters. Some are even known to go fishing (and eat small fish!).

The curled leaf contained a thick silk nest, indicating that this Lycosid was probably a female who had just laid her eggs and used the leaf to wrap them in a protective silk mesh. [big time PLANT INSECT INTERACTION]. Interestingly, this behavior allows us to narrow it down to one of three genera: Alopecosa, Arctosa, or Trochosa. This is because all other wolf spiders carry their silk enmeshed eggs on their bodies.