Hello readers! Do you wonder why we are named Wolf Spider?

Do you know: Are wolf spiders harmful and dangerous?

Let me answer your doubts in this article.

Wolf spiders are named for their wolf-like habit of chasing and pouncing upon the prey. Hence, they are also known as hunting spiders or ground spiders. Wolf spiders are a part of the kingdom Animalia, phylum Arthropoda, subphylum Chelicerata, class Arachnida, order Araneae, and family Lycodisae. 

Most Wolf Spiders don’t spin webs. Instead of catching prey through webs, they hunt their prey. Some Wolf spiders are opportunistic predators. They chase the prey to catch them. 

Wolf spiders have fangs resembling pincers arranged side-to-side at the bottom of their jaw. They also have three claws on each leg named tarsal claws. After catching the prey with the strong fangs they either mash it up with the help of fangs and claws or inject venom from their venom glands in the body of prey.  

Wolf Spiders are largely distributed across the inland region. The habitat of this species displays a wide range, that is to say, they are found in coastal and inland areas both.  They are also found in shrublands, woodlands, wet coastal forests, and homes. 

Some species of wolf spiders live in very specific microhabitats. For example, they prefer to only live in the stream-side gravel beds or montane herb fields. Some wolf spiders build burrows in the land and stay in it. 

The species of wolf spiders that live in the Arid zone, create a tunnel and plug the hole of the tunnel with the help of leaves and pebbles. Due to this protected home, they try to survive and protect themselves in rainy seasons from the flood water. They are also found in human-made locations such as sheds and other outdoor equipment. 

The Wolf spiders have a hairy body. Their body is divided into two sections: cephalothorax and abdomen. 

The Cephalothorax part contains the head and thorax. The Wolf spider has 8 eyes which are further divided into three rows. Out of eight eyes, in the front location, four small eyes are present. The remaining four largest eyes are arranged squarely on the top of the head.

The eight small legs of the Wolf spider are known as pedipalps. Pedipalps are used to catch prey. They also play an important role during mating. The surprising fact about the Wolf spider is that it helps to differentiate the male and female Wolf spiders. The male spiders have bigger pedipalps than females. 

Are Wolf Spiders Harmful?

The Wolf spider has venom glands. Venom glands are situated in the mouthparts. These mouthparts are mostly specialized as fangs. Sometimes venom gland may be found below the carapace, which is a hard cuticular plate that covers the cephalothorax of a spider. The venom ducts of the Wolf spider pass through the mouthparts and lastly open near the tips of fangs. 

The venom of the Wolf spiders is neurotoxin-like peptides, specifically paralyze prey such as small insects. In the case of humans, they are not poisonous or lethal. But they can cause severe medical problems to highly allergic people. So, when someone asks you: Are wolf spiders harmful and dangerous? Tell them that these species are not harmful to humans but can cause trouble if one of them bites you. 

Wolf spider bite is not a normal kind of bite. It is a bit more serious than a normal bee sting. It can cause pain at starting and redness. It can cause mild pain, itching, and fang-like marks on the skin of the body. The intensity of pain decreases within a few minutes. However, swelling might remain for a longer period which will reduce slowly. The itching problem may last for a few days. Most importantly, in the case of highly allergic people, these symptoms may gradually increase.

What attracts wolf spiders in the house?

Wolf spiders are primarily attracted towards the moist environment. Areas such as a damp basement, wet laundry, and leaky pipes majorly attract Wolf spiders to set up their living space.

Moreover, dense areas such as cracks and gaps in windows can create easy passage for Wolf spiders. Hence, make sure to regularly clean all corners of your home, seal and caulk gaps around the doors and windows.

Are wolf spiders poisonous to dogs and cats?

Are Wolf Spiders harmful and dangerous to humans? The answer is no. Similarly, Wolf spiders, though possess venom, generally have minimal dangerous effects on dogs and cats. 

They primarily inject their venom to paralyze their prey, mostly, small insects. Although, the bite of a Wolf spider can cause irritation, mild pain, and discomfort in pets. Mostly mild symptoms are observed which are typically solved without any medical treatment.

However, if you observe or suspect a Wolf spider bite, you should monitor the animal closely. The symptoms are subjective to each animal. As a result, some dogs and cats might face severe medical issues. If your pet faces difficulties in breathing or vomiting then you must immediately consult a veterinary doctor. 

Steps to treat wolf spider bite on dog

Generally, Wolf spiders are venomous and rarely bite if they are instigated, cornered, or picked up. Here are the steps to treat a wolf spider bite.

1. Inspect the bite area: Observe the bite area of the dog’s skin to notice the swelling, and redness of the skin.
2. Clean the bite area:  Clean the skin using diluted disinfectant and water. 
3. Apply an ice-pack: To reduce the swelling you can apply an ice-pack on the bitten area for 2-3 minutes. 
4. Prevention from licking: Prevent your Dog from licking or scratching the bite area.

Steps to treat wolf spider bite on cat

1. Check the bite mark: Closely observe the Wolf spider bite area for swelling, redness, and irritation. 
2. Clean the bite area: Using clean water and soap gently clean the area where the spider has bitten. This will help to prevent further infection in cats.
3. Apply an ice pack: Use an ice pack wrapped in the cloth and apply it on a swollen area to reduce swelling.
4. Observe symptoms: Closely observe and monitor the symptoms of the cat after initial treatment steps. If your cat faces symptoms such as breathing difficulty, vomiting, severe pain, and irritation then consult veterinary care immediately. 
5. Prevent licking of bite area: Prevent your cat from licking the bite area. It may cause infection and irritation to the skin.

Wolf Spider vs Tarantula

Wolf spiders and Tarantulas are interesting arachnids that can be observed in the same habitat such as green forests, grassland, coastal areas as well as deserts. Although Wolf Spider and Tarantulas live in similar habitats, some promising characteristics of behavior, lifestyle, and appearance distinguish them from each other.

The size of the Wolf spider ranges from a half-inch to two inches long. Some Wolf spiders are more than 3 inches in size. In contrast, Tarantulas vary considerably in size. Their size varies from fingernails to a dinner plate. They are heavier and larger as compared to Wolf Spider. 

Additionally, Wolf spiders do not produce silk. On the other hand, Tarantulas can produce silk. 

To know more about such an interesting species of arachnids, Tarantulas, check out the article: “How often do tarantula molt” and “How long tarantulas live without food”.

Wolf Spider vs Brown Recluse

Both Wolf spiders and Brown Recluses are arachnids but live in different habitats and show variety in their behaviors.

Wolf spiders are attracted mostly to the moisture. They are mostly found in areas such as grassland, coastal areas, arid zones forests, gardens, and indoor homes. This hunting spider has a large size hairy body and hunts their prey such as small insects. 

On the other hand, Brown recluses prefer to stay in dark areas such as basements, closets, and woodpiles. They have violet shape markings on their body. Brown recluse spider bite causes intense pain and itching for 2 to 8 hours. The bite further creates an open sore due to the breakdown of skin tissues (necrosis).

To understand the fascinating behavior of Brown recluses and their unique defensive mechanism like playing dead, check out the interesting article: Do Brown Recluse Spider Play Dead?

Conclusion

Let’s conclude: Are Wolf Spiders harmful and dangerous? No, Wolf Spiders are not harmful and dangerous, but surely can cause trouble if they bite you. It uses venom from the venom gland present at the tip of their fangs. The bite of the Wolf spider is not lethal to humans and pets. However, their symptoms may create severe pain, irritation, and swelling in highly allergic persons.