Wolf Spiders

What do wolf spiders look like?

Wolf spiders are hairy but not the only hairy spiders in Phoenix. The most common hairy spiders are wolf spiders. The most notorious are tarantulas. For this reason, the two often get mixed up. But you should not have trouble telling them apart. Tarantulas are 4 to 8 inches long, whereas wolf spiders range from 1 to 2 inches. 

Wolf spiders are brown or gray and typically have dark stripes on their backs. On the front of the body are eight black eyes—two eyes on top, two in the middle, and four on the bottom. Wolf spiders use their eyes to hunt prey effectively. These spiders do not wait for meals to come to them. If you go out into your yard at night and shine a flashlight, you may see these eyes staring back at you as they are reflective.  

What do wolf spiders eat?

Wolf spiders are hunters that eat other animals. They do not build webs to catch prey. Some of their favorite meals are:

• Crickets
• Cockroaches
• Ants
• Other small insects

Outdoors wolf spiders explore gardens, vegetation, leaf litter, and other natural habitats that are abundant with life. They prey on the insects and bugs they find.

Are wolf spiders venomous?

All spiders have venom, but wolf spiders’ venom is not considered venomous, meaning it is not potent enough to present a medical threat to humans or pets.

A bite from a wolf spider is likely to result in a red, swollen, and itchy wound. In rare cases, stronger symptoms can occur for individuals with allergies to venom. Fortunately, these spiders aren’t prone to biting. They prefer to flee from humans.

Are wolf spiders harmful?

This question goes hand-in-hand with the last. As we pointed out, only allergic individuals must worry about wolf spider bites. For all others, there is only localized pain and some itching. A bite from a wolf spider may feel like a light pin prick.

Where do wolf spiders commonly hide indoors?

These spiders hide in holes, gaps, and cracks. They also have a preference for hiding in undisturbed spaces, such as:

• Crawl spaces
• Garages
• Closets
• Attics
• Storage rooms
• Inside stored items

In the outdoors, they hide in bushes, low-lying vegetation, shaded areas, and clutter. They also seek out moist habitats.

Do wolf spiders build webs?

While these spiders can create webbing material, they do not use their webs to ensnare their prey. They hunt for their food with their exceptional vision and quick reflexes. You can find webbing associated with a wolf spider infestation, but it is only used for lining the entrances to their homes or hiding places, not for catching prey. Unlike other spiders, they don’t keep their egg sacs in their webbing. Wolf spiders carry their egg sacs on their backs. When the eggs hatch, the spiderlings remain on the mother’s back until they’re ready to go off independently. Consider this if you’re thinking about disturbing a female wolf spider. You may get a creepy surprise when her spiderlings take off at full speed. 

How do wolf spiders get into homes?

Wolf spiders stay near the ground, so the entry points they use to enter Phoenix area homes are close to the ground. Here are a few ways they get inside:

• Through open, unscreened windows.
• Through small gaps around door frames.
• Underneath doors that have damaged sweeps or weatherstripping.
• Through a gap around utility line entrances.
• Through structural cavities or gaps above foundation slabs.
• Hitch rides into homes on objects that are carried in from the outdoors.

These spiders cannot enter homes without entry points, but, unfortunately, almost all homes have gaps large enough for these spiders to exploit.

How can I get rid of wolf spiders?

We highly recommend signing up for ongoing home pest control services to exterminate wolf spiders and the insects they prey on. Here at Termio Pest Control, we offer year-round solutions for homeowners in Tempe and throughout the Phoenix area. Contact us today to learn more! 

How can I prevent wolf spiders from entering my home?

There are a few steps you can take to deter wolf spiders from finding their way indoors. Let’s start from the outside and work our way in.

• Remove clutter near your home and trim vegetation to reduce hiding places.
• Reduce damp conditions that attract wolf spiders and their prey.
• Reduce exterior light to reduce the number of insects wolf spiders may feed on.
• Only keep exterior doors open long enough to enter and exit.
• Update weatherproofing and screens.
• Use expanding foam and caulking material to seal gaps, cracks, holes, and cavities.
• Apply caulking materials along indoor baseboards and around plumbing.
• Address indoor pest problems to eliminate food sources.
• Keep interior spaces free of clutter.
• Always check items you bring in from the yard or exterior storage lockers.