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Wolf spider

Hogna carolinesis

Photo by KarenL
Published on Project Noah
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36.2558, -87.0411

Field Notes

Description:

Hogna carolinensis, also known as the Carolina wolf spider, is usually regarded as the largest of the wolf spiders found in North America. The body length of females is typically 25 millimetres, and the body length of males is typically around 19 mm. Members of this species are known to live in burrows that they dig.
The undersides of the cephalothax and the abdomen are both solid black. Their large eyes reflect light well, so that they are sometimes hunted at night using a flashlight.
While the appearance of these spiders may seem rather forbidding, they are not inclined to bite. They flee anything larger than themselves, and generally will bite humans only if they feel threatened and are unable to escape. They do have large fangs that can create mechanical injury to other creatures, but their venom is not regarded as medically significant. A bite by one of them is sometimes described as about as painful as the sting of a bee or wasp.
These spiders are large enough to easily capture grasshoppers, crickets, and other such large agricultural pests. They are ambush predators that may wander about after dark in search of prey. They are poor climbers, so that in nature they generally remain on the ground, hidden under natural shelters such as the edges of rocks, or in their own burrows.

Habitat:

Cumberland trail, Ashland City, Tennessee.

Notes:

This huge wolf spider was not happy about being photographed & even reared up at me at one point! She was not going to relinquish her juicy caterpillar at all!

Species ID Suggestions

Carolina Wolf Spider

Hogna carolinesis

Comments (43)

Thank you Luis & Mayra!
Thanks Ignacio & Gerardo! Kayla, I've just googled wolf spiders & apparently there are more than 2000 species worldwide!
How many kinds of wolf spiders are there? We just call them wolf spiders here...PA i mean...
Thanks Lorelei & Antonio!
Karen great 1000 spotting congrats and sorry i missed the ocasion in the day :( i'am beeing to busy :)
Congratulations on 1000th spotting
Yes I certainly lucked out last night Gerardo! :)
WOW Congratulations Karen! Extraordinary series for # 1000
Thanks Carol! We first saw her when we saw the her eyes light up from the flashlight! Jacob, I used a macro converter - I have a Raynox 250 which just clips on the front of my leans so it is really fast & easy to fit. Usually these spiders wont let me get so close which is why I often pick them up & put them in an empty yoghurt pot while I photograph them (& put them back exactly where I found them afterwards). I think this one stayed put because she was "fixed" by the flashlight, & also because she had such a hefty mean which she obviously had no intention of leaving behind!
Fantastic series. And #1000. This is such a great macro and the lighting makes the photos so clear and crisp.
You have helped ID some the arthropods I have spotted, I couldn't help returning a favor! How could you get this close to the spider?
Thank you ulvalactuca! Thanks Jacob for the comment & ID - I thought it was the Carolina too but the markings were a more intense orange than I have seen & I didn't have my spider guide with me!
NOM NOM NOM. Great shot Karen. Congratz on your milestone.
Thanks Jacob & Satyen!
Lovely capture. Congrats on the 1000th spotting!
Christy, yes it had to be a spider! I've always loved these little guys but Project Noah has encouraged me to really appreciate their character, weird beauty & diversity! Thanks Jack! I have a couple more to post today & hopefully many more to come! Achmmad, Eric & WarmNapat, thank you for your kind comments!
Yasser, thank you so much for your comment but most importantly - for Project Noah! :)
Wow! Amazing spider
Karen, Congratulations on your milestone... A "spider' search of your collection turns up 75 spottings - that's 7.5%! I think you've earned the moniker: Spider Woman!
Unbelievable shot for your 1000th Karen! It's so awesome to dig through your collection and see your wildlife journey! I think it all started with a mantis and its lunch: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7080157. Thanks for all your incredible contributions and congratulations for this huge milestone!
Congrats Karen...it had to be a spider, huh?? Yours is the ONLY spider I've ever "favorited"...although everyone is TRYING to convert me to a spider-lover!! (it may happen...eventually...with all the fascinating shots here!). Nice series...for a spider!! ;-)
Thanks everyone! It has been a fun journey!
Karen, welcome to the 1000 spots gang. Lots of fun here!!! :-)
Congrats Karen, huge milestone!
Fantastic pictures Karen and congratz with your 1000th spotting =)
My 1000th spotting! It just had to be a spider!

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