Wolf Spider
Pardosa amentata
Least ConcernFast Facts
About
The wolf spider is a fast, agile ground-hunter that takes its name from the way it chases down prey rather than trapping it in a web. Mottled in browns and greys, it is beautifully camouflaged against soil and leaf litter and is one of the commonest spiders scurrying across gardens and paths on sunny days.
It has excellent eyesight, with two of its eight eyes notably enlarged, helping it to locate and track prey across the ground.
Behaviour
Rather than spinning a snare, the wolf spider actively stalks and pounces on its prey, relying on speed and sharp vision. It is most active in sunshine, when it can often be seen darting over the ground.
The female shows remarkable maternal care, carrying her round egg-sac attached to her spinnerets and later allowing the newly hatched spiderlings to ride in a cluster on her back.
Did you know?
- Wolf spiders hunt their prey on foot instead of building a web to catch it
- The mother carries her egg-sac everywhere, attached to the tip of her abdomen
- Newly hatched spiderlings ride in a bundle on their mother's back
- Their eyes reflect light, so they can be spotted as tiny glints by torchlight at night
Distribution
Widespread across Europe in gardens, grassland and woodland floors
