My skin is crawling right now! I’m not a big spider fan. When they are in my house they are squished instantly. When I’m in their house (outside) I’m much more forgiving and let them crawl menacingly back into their dark corners.

While working in the yard the other day my son and I came across the grossest, hairiest, hugest spider I’ve ever seen. And it had a rear end like a pine cone. I had never seen a spider like this before so I sent Doober in to get the camera.

We got on the computer and searched eNature to find out what kind of spider it was.

It was a WOLF SPIDER.

I have seen wolf spiders before but not the kind with junk in their trunk like this! Turns out this was a female…with babies….lots and lots of babies on her back.

Quick Facts About the Wolf Spider

1. They carry their unborn young with them at the end of their abdomen in a round silken globe.
2. They have excellent eyesight
3. They are excellent hunters and don’t rely on webs to catch their food.
4. They will bite but it isn’t very common and their venom is harmless.
5. and last but not least this fact from Wikipedia… “Another aspect unique to wolf spiders is their method of infant care. Immediately after the spiderlings emerge from their protective silken case, they clamber up their mother’s legs and crowd onto her abdomen.”

Don’t try to sugar coat it Wikipedia…it still makes my skin CRAWL!

So now I have the glorious opportunity to lay in my bed at night and think about the 50+ spiders I let crawl back into my shrubbery to suprise me another day.

Now if the still pictures weren’t detailed enough for you here is a video of another mama wolf spider I found on youtube

video

Sleep tight! Don’t let the bed bugs bite!

nature for kids, wolf spider,spider

Share

Tweet