A Wolf Spider Plus My Hand Equals A Show For The Neighbors
My Nature Journal Summary
| Date | 06/25/2022 |
| Time | Around 10:30AM EDT |
| Temperature | 84ยฐF / 29ยฐC |
| Weather | Broken clouds |
| Wind | 5mph 0ยฐN to S |
| Humidity | 61% |
| Habitat | My suburban backyard |
| Animals encountered | Rabid wolf spider (Rabidosa rabida) – IMPORTANT NOTE: These spiders are NOT actually rabid. This is just the common, informal name the species was given long ago. |
My Nature Journal Photos
Rabid Wolf Spider Rabidosa rabida
Historically classified with the binomial “Lycosa rabida“, rabid wolf spiders live throughout the southeastern United States. While definitely not the largest species of wolf spiders, these arachnids are sizable in their own right, growing to 0.75 inches (1.9 cm) in body length. Their legs can span 1.5 inches (3.8 cm).
These spiders don’t spin webs to trap insects. Instead, they are ground hunters that course across the landscape and chase their prey down. Accordingly, these spiders are fast, agile, and have excellent eyesight.
They can also startle unwary humans. This not-so-little guy actually ran across my hand as I was doing yard work in my backyard. I was crouched on the balls of my feet and scooped up a pile of leaf litter. Suddenly, I felt the pricks of many tiny, clawed feet scuttling across my hand. I looked down and, in an instant, my mind recognized the shape as “spider”.
First, I yelled out. Then I toppled over. Then I leapt to my feet, dashed around the yard, and waved my arms around like a madwoman for about two minutes, completely creeped out.
Now, in general, I’m a lot less scared of the average spider than some other creatures that could lurk within vegetation. But all humans have an innate, reflexive fear reaction to spiders. We can ignore, overcome, or lessen our reaction when motivated to do so, but we experience the initial reaction all the same.
I certainly did. And gave my neighbors quite a show in the meantime.
