100 Species #17: Northern Wolf Spider

[urbpan]

A Northern Wolf Spider Alopecosa aculeata refuses to hold still for long on my hand.

My step daughter turned this spider up while doing some yard work. She asked why it was called a wolf spider and I explained that it was its mournful howl during nights illuminated by the full moon, and that it hunts in packs and has a rigid family social structure. Actually none of that is true; I didn't even tell her that, but maybe I will next time she asks. Wolf spiders were probably named that back when wolves were hated pests that preyed on livestock, not honorable keystone species found on t shirts in stores that smell like incense. Wolf spiders hunt alone, like most other spiders, and do so without spinning a web. They chase down their prey, which is probably the wolfiest thing about them.


I made my identification mostly from this photo, which shows the orientation of the eyes (crucial when identifying spider) and some other details. If I am right (and I surely could be wrong--identifying spiders to species mostly involves looking at spider genitals under microscopes) then this is a species found throughout the northern hemisphere. The scientific name translates more or less to "Fox spider." I suppose that might be more apt: foxes usually hunt alone, and pounce on their prey. I'd want a "fox spider" to be reddish orange, though. This is a new species to this blog! Previously I have featured other wolf spiders as a "more urban species" entry, and as a curiosity found at Cutler Park (in Dedham before we lived in Dedham!)

Comments

[m0053.livejournal.com]

As an afterthought, perhaps it's not spring for you yet. It's definitely spring here though XD

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Oh, it's spring for us, even though we're expecting snow tonight!