How to Identify a Wolf Spider to Avoid Painful Bites

Wolf spiders are a common household pest, particularly in the fall when they look for a warm place to ride out the winter. You’ll find them near doors, windows, basements, garages, and even house plants. These arachnids aren’t venomous, though they pack a fairly painful bite when confronted. How can you be sure you are looking at a common wolf spider, not its infamous cousin, the uber-poisonous brown recluse spider? Keep reading to find out. 

Identifying Wolf Spiders

Wolf spiders are relatively recognizable, given their ubiquity. These arachnids vary in size from 1/2 inch to 2 inches long. They are hairy, ranging from brown to gray, with various markings or lines running throughout. Some other identifying factors listed below help set wolf spiders apart from their arachnid cousins so you can make an identification to tell your local pest removal specialist.

Males and Females

Like many spiders, there are extreme variations between male and female wolf spiders. For instance, female spiders are much larger than males, averaging 1 3/8 inches long, with males averaging just under an inch in length. This size discrepancy is important, but even female wolf spiders max out at 2 inches in length. In other words, that’s how you set this species apart from tarantulas, as they are both on the furrier side. 

Egg Sacs and Baby Spiders

Another obvious indicator that you’re looking at a female wolf spider is the presence of egg sacs. Wolf spider moms carry these sacs, so look for a round silken blob attached along the abdomen in the early spring and summer. Once the spiderlings hatch, they climb on the mother’s back until partially grown—so don’t freak out if you see a giant spider with a bunch of tiny spiders along for the ride. 

Look for Tell-Tale Behaviors 

Wolf spiders are unique in that they don’t spin webs. Instead, they stalk the ground for prey and retreat to a burrow or cubby hole to rest. If you spot an arachnid that runs from you towards a hole of some kind, that’s a good indicator of a wolf spider. The same goes if you see it racing around on the floor, as most spiders stick to webs. Incidentally, wolf spiders are fast, which can also help with identification. Tarantulas also stalk the floor and retreat to burrows, but they are much larger than wolf spiders. 

Claws, Fangs, and Eyes

Unless you are Dr. Dolittle, you’ll have to find a dead spider to get this close—but a wolf spider’s claws, fangs, and eyes all offer ways to identify the specimen. Wolf spiders boast three claws that stick out of each leg, called tarsal claws, while many other species feature two of these claws. Also, wolf spiders have fangs that look like pincers arranged side-to-side. Finally, these spiders have eight eyes comprising three rows, which is relatively unique. The first row has four small eyes, the second row has two larger eyes, and the third and final row features two medium-sized eyes. 

There’s No Violin Marking

While it’s true that wolf spiders resemble deadly brown recluse spiders, the easiest way to tell these two species apart are the tell-tale violin-shaped markings behind the head of the brown recluse. Wolf spiders lack this marking, in addition to boasting shorter legs than the brown recluse spider. 

Are Wolf Spiders Dangerous? 

Wolf spiders aren’t that dangerous, though they’ll deliver a forceful and painful bite when cornered. However, this bite is nothing more than a nuisance, as wolf spiders aren’t typically poisonous to humans. In some cases, people with severe allergies will react to the minimal load of venom that accompanies a wolf spider bite, leading to itchiness and prolonged pain at the intrusion site. There are no records of a person dying from a wolf spider bite. 

Why Do Wolf Spiders Enter Homes? 

Like most spiders entering our homes, wolf spiders seek food and safety. They don’t feed on the same stuff we eat. Instead, they are voracious eaters of insects, and the standard residential home is a hotbed of insect activity. They’ll also come inside to find a safe space to spend the winter, particularly if you live in an area with extreme weather conditions during the colder seasons. Wolf spiders aren’t dangerous; they eat their weight in bothersome insects, leading many homeowners to essentially leave them alone. 

Tips to Remove and Prevent Wolf Spiders 

Wolf spiders aren’t a threat, but seeing a giant arachnid stalking the floors of your home is not exactly fun. Here are some tips to humanely remove wolf spiders from the house and prevent them from coming in the first place. 

• Catch and release: Wolf spiders are fast but on the larger side, so it’s not difficult to trap one by placing a large cup over it. After that, transfer the cup outdoors and let that spider roam free. There are also dedicated grabbing devices and insect vacuums for this specific task. 

• Lay out essential oils: Many insects hate the smell of specific essential oils, and wolf spiders are no different. Dissuade these arachnids from sticking around by using cinnamon or citrus oil. Dilute 15 to 20 drops in a spray bottle and fill the rest with water. Mist heavily in areas where you’ve seen the wolf spiders, paying particular attention to burrows. An essential oil diffuser also works, as do cinnamon sticks, vinegar, and citrus peels.

• Remove the food source: Wolf spiders gorge on insects, so remove the food source by calling in an exterminator or performing some DIY pest control practices. Cleanliness helps, as most insects are attracted to food waste and water. 

• Seal up entryways: Like all spiders, they have to get inside before laying down roots. Seal up any holes outside or anything else that looks like a perfect entryway for a spider.