Wolf Spider Control: Protect Your Home or Business
Facts
- There are more than 200 different species of this arachnid in the U.S.
- Females carry their egg sacs on their backs.
- Wolf spiders hunt their prey rather than spinning webs.
Appearance
A wolf spider’s body shape and markings differ depending on its species. Generally speaking, males are almost an inch long with light brown bodies covered in gray hair. Females are often larger than males and have lighter coloring.
How Do Wolf Spiders Get Inside Buildings?
A wolf spider prefers secluded areas. You may find them in soil, between boards in your home, and under the siding. The pests tend to overwinter indoors during the colder months, and torn screens, open doors, and cracked foundations provide easy access.
Since these arachnids prefer isolation, seasonal cabins, warehouses, and storage areas are some of the most common answers to where do wolf spiders live. Commercial spaces surrounded by trees and lush plant life may have issues with wolf spiders, too. What do wolf spiders eat? They will eat flies, ants, and other insects, so any building with a pest infestation can develop a spider problem as well.
- How big do wolf spiders get? Pretty darn big! And do wolf spiders jump? Yup! These sizable arachnids hunt for prey at night, and you may catch their movement as they chase down their prey. They will pounce on their prey which adds to the creep factor of these spiders. Since they rarely invade homes, seeing multiple wolf spiders indoors is a strong indication of an insect infestation serious enough to attract them inside.
- Female wolf spiders carry their babies on their backs for a few days after they’ve hatched. Attempting to crush one that’s carrying her offspring can result in hundreds of spiderlings frantically looking for a place to hide.
- Like deer, dogs, and cats, a wolf spider’s eyes are bright and reflective when exposed to light. Shining a flashlight in an infested basement or storage area will reveal the telltale eyeshine glow.
Problems Caused by Wolf Spiders
Wolf spiders don’t transmit diseases, but wolf spiders do bite and it can be painful. Are wolf spiders poisonous? No, but people with allergies may have a serious reaction to the venom. Fortunately, these large arachnids don’t bite unless trapped or crushed. Sometimes wolf spiders are mistaken for brown recluses, but they lack the distinctive violin-shaped markings. Are wolf spiders dangerous? Also no! They look scary but they really would rather leave you alone as long as you leave them alone.
Cooler weather drives wolf spiders indoors to overwinter. Homes, hotels, and lodges in wooded areas can have the occasional run-in with the pests. Wolf spiders don’t cause damage, and while a sighting may frighten a guest or two, infestations are unlikely.
Prevention Tips
A good way to deter wolf spiders from entering a building is repairing holes and cracks in foundations and gaps around windows and doors. The best answer to how to et rid of wolf spiders is to call in a professional spider exterminator. For problems with wolf spiders or the insects that attract them, contact the professionals at Western Pest Services.