Wolf spiders are robust and agile hunters with excellent eyesight. Wolf spiders mostly hunt alone and will often wait at the mouth of their burrows waiting for their prey to pass by.

Wolf spiders have eight eyes in three rows and have a big body with long legs.

When Wolf spiders mate it usually takes place outside the female’s burrow at night. The adult male is of smaller-size and is known to disperse by air in order to find mates. The male is attracted by scent markings left by the female, often associated with her drag-line silk. Males perform a courtship ritual prior to mating, often involving complex leg and palp signalling to the female.

The male wolf spider will attract the female wolf spider by waving its front legs in the air. As long as the signals are carried out the female wolf spider will not regard the male wolf spider as prey.

Wolf spiders are very unique in the way that they can carry their eggs. The egg sac (which is quite large), is attached to the spinnerets at the end of the abdomen, allowing the spider to carry her unborn young with her. Her abdomen must be held in a raised position to keep the egg case from dragging on the ground.

Another unique aspect to the wolf spiders is their method of care to their young. Immediately after the spiderlings emerge from their egg sack, they climb up their mother’s legs and onto her abdomen.

Wolf Spiders can live for up to two years and only a short time if kept indoors.

The wolf spider will eat crickets, ants, other types of spiders, small lizards, frogs and grasshoppers.

Wolf spiders will bite if provoked. The effects of a bite are usually mild and may result in pain, swelling and itching, nausea and headaches.

If you find that you have wolf spiders please call PestFree on 1800 15 30 10 or head to our website https://pestfreesydney.com.au/ to arrange a time for one of our trusty technicians to come out and treat all affected areas where the wolf spiders are.