Wolf spider fact sheet | Field of Mars EEC

What are wolf spiders?

Wolf spiders are arachnids in the family Lycosidae. They are fast-moving ground hunters with strong bodies, long legs and eight eyes. Unlike web-building spiders, wolf spiders do not build sticky capture webs to trap prey. Instead, they chase, ambush or wait for insects and other small animals on the ground.

They live throughout Australia and are likely to be found in leaf litter, soil, open ground, gardens, grassy areas and bushland. Some species shelter in burrows, while others hide among leaves, bark and ground cover.

A wolf spider.

Wolf spiders have large eyes, long legs and strong bodies for hunting on the ground.

Where do wolf spiders live?

Wolf spiders live in many habitats, including gardens, lawns, grasslands, woodlands, forests, heath and leaf litter. Many species live on the ground, while some dig burrows for shelter. Garden wolf spiders can make open burrows in Sydney gardens and other areas with bare soil.

At Field of Mars Reserve, leaf litter, fallen bark, soil, grassy edges and eucalypt forest provide suitable habitat for ground-dwelling spiders such as wolf spiders. Wolf spiders live on the ground among leaf litter, soil, bark and grass.

A wolf spider in its burrow in Kosciuszko National Park.

What do wolf spiders eat?

Wolf spiders are predators. They feed on insects and other small invertebrates such as ants, crickets, beetles and spiders. Larger wolf spiders may occasionally catch small vertebrates such as frogs or lizards.

Wolf spiders do not wait in a web for prey. They use speed, camouflage, eyesight and vibration-sensitive hairs to detect and catch animals on the ground.

Wolf spiders catch insects and other small invertebrates.

What is the life cycle of a wolf spider?

Female wolf spiders make a round silk egg sac after mating. The egg sac is attached to the spinnerets at the end of the abdomen, so the female can carry it with her as she moves around.

When the eggs hatch, the tiny spiderlings climb onto their mother’s back. They cling to special hairs and stay there until they are ready to disperse and begin hunting for themselves. This behaviour is one of the easiest ways to recognise a female wolf spider with young.

Female garden wolf spider carrying an egg sac.

What adaptations do wolf spiders have to help them survive?

Wolf spiders have several adaptations that help them survive on the ground. Their brown, grey and mottled body colours help them blend in with soil, bark, rocks and leaf litter. Their long legs allow them to run quickly after prey or away from danger.

Their large eyes help them detect movement, especially at night. If you shine a torch gently across the ground, wolf spider eyes may reflect greenish-yellow light. Some wolf spiders also dig burrows, which provide shelter from predators, heat and dry conditions.

The colours and patterns of garden wolf spiders help them blend in with the ground.

Why are wolf spiders important?

Wolf spiders are important predators in bushland, gardens and other ecosystems. They help control the numbers of insects and other small invertebrates. They are also food for birds, reptiles, frogs and other animals.

As part of the food web, wolf spiders help keep ecosystems balanced. A healthy habitat usually has many small predators, including spiders, mantids, beetles and other invertebrates.

Wolf spiders are predators that help control insect numbers.

Common wolf spiders in Sydney

There are many species of wolf spider in Australia. The garden wolf spider, Tasmanicosa godeffroyi, is found in southern Australia and can occur in urban areas, forests, woodlands and heath. It is one of the wolf spiders that may be seen in Sydney gardens.

Another Australian wolf spider is Venatrix furcillata, a species found in temperate parts of the country. Like other wolf spiders, it is a ground-dwelling predator.

Venatrix furcillata is a ground-dwelling Australian wolf spider.

How can you help wolf spiders?

You can help wolf spiders by protecting natural ground habitat. Leave leaf litter, fallen bark, logs and small patches of bare soil where it is safe to do so. These places provide shelter for spiders and habitat for the small animals they eat.

Avoid unnecessary pesticide use in gardens and outdoor learning areas. Watch wolf spiders carefully, but do not handle them or disturb their burrows, egg sacs or spiderlings.

Leaf litter, bark and logs provide shelter for wolf spiders and their prey.

Related fact sheets

More invertebrate fact sheets

• Invertebrate fact sheets – overview
• Arachnids fact sheet – explains the main features of spiders and other arachnids.
• Flower spider fact sheet – another spider found on plants and flowers.
• Sydney funnel-web spider fact sheet – a well-known burrowing spider from the Sydney region.
• Praying mantid fact sheet – another invertebrate predator.

Habitats and ecosystems

• Leaf litter habitats fact sheet – leaf litter provides shelter for wolf spiders and their prey.

• Rock and log habitats fact sheet – fallen logs and rotting wood provide shelter for wolf spiders and other invertebrates.

• Eucalypt forest fact sheet– explains the local bushland habitat at Field of Mars Reserve.

• Field of Mars Reserve fact sheet – explains the reserve habitats that may support wolf spiders and other invertebrates.

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