Rabid Wolf Spider Facts

Rabidosa rabida, whose common name is rabid wolf spider, is a species of spider belonging to North America. The brown stripe that is present on the abdomen of these spiders, along with the little white spots on the posterior part of the stripe, is used to identify them. These spiders are not poisonous venomous in nature, but can be pests in the house.

Another interesting feature of these spiders is that they do not spin webs. They are known to live in holes and under litter, garbage, and so on. Once the spiderlings hatch out of the eggs, which are inside egg sacs, they make their way to their mother's back. Hence, if you see one of these spiders in your house, it is always better not to kill them, because if it is a mother spider, it can release all its spiderlings in your house. The best way to get rid of these spiders is by using a broom to wipe them out, using a glue board, or getting help from pest control. However, since these spiders feed on insects, they can also help in controlling pests in your house.

To learn more about this interesting spider, continue reading below! If you like this article, you can also read about huntsman spider and brown recluse spider.

What type of animal is a rabid wolf spider?

A rabid wolf spider is a kind of arachnid seen in North America.

What class of animal does a rabid wolf spider belong to?

The Rabidosa rabida spider or rabid wolf spider belongs to the class Arachnida. They are a part of the Lycosidae family.

How many rabid wolf spiders are there in the world?

The exact number of rabid wolf spiders is not known. However, their population is not under any threat of reducing drastically.

Where does a rabid wolf spider live?

These animals are native to North America. In the United States of America, these spiders can be seen from Maine in the north, to Florida in the south, and Texas.

What is a rabid wolf spider's habitat?

The habitat of rabid wolf spiders (Rabidosa rabida) mainly consists of apartments and houses, cotton fields, or wooded areas and forests. They can most commonly be found in holes and also under litter and garbage.

Who do rabid wolf spiders live with?

These creatures are solitary in nature and are found to be living and hunting on their own. However, when young, the spiderlings are seen to be attached to their mother's back. Hence, mother and offspring live together for a while.

How long does a rabid wolf spider live?

The typical lifespan of this species is two years. But in a steady environment, they can survive beyond that.

How do they reproduce?

The reproductive process in these spiders is quite interesting and also, a common topic of scientific research. The male performs a kind of dance in front of the female rabid wolf spider during the courting period. Both the sexes also release pheromones during this time. After a successful courtship, the male spider deposits their sperm in a ball of silk they have spun. This silk ball is then carried by the female until fertilization occurs. The egg sacs (eggs surrounded by a silk cocoon) are attached to the spinnerets of the female and contain 168-365 eggs. Once the young spiderlings hatch out of the eggs, they climb on the back of their mother and stay there for about six months.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of Rabidosa rabida has not been listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature or IUCN. However, these spiders are not at any risk of endangerment. Their main threats are predators like snakes, cats, dogs, and other wolf spiders.

What do rabid wolf spiders look like?

Rabid wolf spiders are seen with a dark gray cephalothorax with two stripes on it. They also have a distinct stripe on their abdomen. The back end of the abdomen has a few spots. These spiders have eight eyes. Male rabid wolf spiders appear smaller than female spiders. Hence, in this species, dimorphism is seen between males and females.

How cute are they?

In general, spiders aren't cute to most people. However, those who are arachnid enthusiasts might find these animals cute.

How do they communicate?

Rabid wolf spiders can communicate using a variety of methods, such as vibrations and pheromones. These male spiders are known to pluck the fibers of their web to create a 'song' through vibrations in order to attract  females. They also use this method to communicate with each other. Additionally, both males and females are known to use their pheromones as an effective tool for communication.

How big is a rabid wolf spider?

This species of wolf spider (Rabidosa rabida) is not very big. A male rabid wolf spider has an average length of 0.5 in (13 mm), while the female spider's length ranges from 0.6-0.8 in (16-21 mm). These spiders are smaller than Arctic wolf spiders, which belong to the same family Lycosidae.

How fast can a rabid wolf spider move?

Rabid wolf spiders are known to be very fast and quick. They can avoid any danger and predators with the help of their agility.

How much does a rabid wolf spider weigh?

Even though the exact weight of these arachnids is not known, it can be assumed that they are very lightweight in nature. In general, the maximum weight for any member of this family Lycosidae is not more than 1 oz (30 g).

What are their male and female names of the species?

The males and females belonging to this species of spider are known as male rabid wolf spiders and female rabid wolf spiders, respectively.

What would you call a baby rabid wolf spider?

Baby rabid wolf spiders are known as spiderlings.

What do they eat?

The rabid wolf spiders are carnivorous in nature and mainly prey on insects. Some of the common insects in their diet are grasshoppers, locusts, ants, and crickets. They are also known to prey on other spiders. They also feed on non-insect arthropods. After catching their prey, they suck out all the nutrients in its body.

Are they poisonous?

Rabid wolf spiders (Rabidosa rabida) are not venomous or poisonous in nature. As a result, they pose no significant threat to people. These spiders are also not prone to biting and will only bite if they have no other option. Rabid wolf spider bite wound, like other wolf spider bite wounds, causes swelling and redness in humans, but does not require any special attention and usually resolves on its own.

Would they make a good pet?

It is possible to keep rabid wolf spiders as pets as they are mostly docile and harmless in nature when handled correctly. Their care requirements are expected to be similar to those of other species of wolf spiders. Since these spiders do not spin webs, it is best to keep them in a well-ventilated terrarium or aquarium. They will require insects as their food. Even though these spiders are not poisonous in nature, it is still advisable to not touch them or take them out of their enclosure too often, as their bites are painful.

Did you know...

These spiders belong to the Lycosidae family and the name Lycosidae in ancient Greek means 'wolf'.

The mating ritual of rabid wolf spiders includes a dance where the male and female spiders turn themselves in alternate directions. Scientific research has concluded that the intensity of the pheromones released by the male rabid wolf spider depends on these turns.

How do rabid wolf spiders get their name?

Despite having the word 'rabid' in their name, this species of wolf spider does not carry the rabies virus and is therefore harmless. Their agility and quickness, though, have earned them the name. They also hunt their prey in the same way that wolves do. They remain motionless before leaping on their prey.

How many eyes do rabid wolf spiders have?

Rabid wolf spiders have a total of eight eyes. These eyes are located in such a way that it appears like a mustache. Four eyes are present on the top of their cephalothorax, and four more can be seen below. Their eyes also help them by providing really good eyesight.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other arthropods including hobo spider, or jumping spider.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our Rabid wolf spider coloring pages.

Thank you to Kidadler Cindy Virginiak for providing the image of Rabid Wolf Spider in this article.