Wolf spiders are large spiders, with females that grow considerably larger than males. While most male wolf spiders are only about ¼ inch to ¾ of an inch in size, female wolf spiders can grow anywhere from ⅜ to 1 ⅜ inches long.
Wolf spiders have big, hairy, dark brown bodies with lighter markings and thick, spiny legs. These spiders are fast runners. Although there are many species of spiders in the Woodlands, when most people think about how a spider looks, especially if they’re afraid of spiders, they think of a wolf spider. It will definitely startle you if one of these big, hairy spiders runs quickly past you.
You might think wolf spiders get their names from their large, hairy appearance, but they don’t. These arachnids are called wolf spiders because of how they get their food. Unlike most spiders that build webs to catch their next meal, wolf spiders hunt like wolves. Their fast running ability allows them to chase and catch their prey with ease.
Wolf spiders primarily eat small insects, such as flies, ants, and crickets. They may also catch smaller spiders and have even been known to eat small animals, like lizards and mice, on occasion.
Wolf spiders are attracted to areas that offer them shelter and food. They primarily hunt at night and remain in secluded areas during the day. For this reason, they prefer to spend time in areas where there is clutter or debris where they can hide, such as under rocks or leaf piles.
Although they are not pests that are typically found indoors, if wolf spiders are attracted to a food source in your house, they may stick around if there are plenty of pests available for them to feed on. If you are finding wolf spiders in your house regularly, it’s a good indication that other pests may be present.
Wolf spiders look scary because they are big and hairy. If you tend to be frightened of spiders, you probably won’t like these ones, especially if you start finding them in your house. However, rest easy knowing that these spiders are pretty harmless. Although they can bite, they rarely do unless provoked. A bite from a wolf spider may hurt for a short time, but it shouldn’t cause any long-term issues.
Wolf spiders are also not known to spread any diseases, nor will they cause damage to your house if they get inside. Unlike other spiders that make your house a mess by building webs all over the place, wolf spiders don’t even cause that issue since they don’t build webs. Although you probably don’t want wolf spiders in your house, if you have some outside, they can be beneficial since they eat other pests.
Wolf spiders usually get into homes while they hunt for food. Although they can be fairly large, they are still small enough to fit through small cracks, gaps, and other openings around the exterior of your house. An open door, a torn window screen, or damaged weather-stripping also make it easy for wolf spiders to get inside.
With 20+ years of industry experience, you can count on the team at Marathon Pest Control to eliminate and prevent wolf spider infestations. In fact, our ongoing home pest control services are the ideal solution to keep spiders away all year.
Although wolf spiders don’t infest homes very often, occasionally they’ll make their way inside. If you’d prefer to keep wolf spiders outside where they belong, there are a few things you can do to prevent them from getting into your home in the Woodlands:
If you continue to have a problem with wolf spiders, contact Marathon Pest Control for spider control that will help you get your wolf spider infestation under control.
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