Scientific Name
Hogna carolinensis
Common Name
No official English name; one of the “wolf spiders” in the family Lycosidae.
Other Names
Carolina Wolf Spider, Giant Wolf Spider
Explanation of Names
- Author: Charles Athanase Walckenaer. First year published: 1805, as Lycosa tarantula.
- Pronunciation: HOG-nuh kair-oh-lie-NEN-sis.
- Meaning: The author of Hogna (Eugène Simon) gave no description of its meaning, but speculation leads to a few possibilities: could be after the place Hogne in Belgium, or maybe it was derived from the mythological Teutonic name “Hogni” (father of one of the Valkyries); carolinensis translates to “of Carolina.”
Appearance
- Size: Body length of mature female 22-35 mm; male 18-20 mm.
- Color: Highly variable in color and pattern above, but usually pale brown or gray with sparse darker markings; sometimes nearly black. Usually a dark gray or black elongate mark on the midline of the top of the abdomen is present (known as a “cardiac mark”). Chelicerae (jaws) may be flushed with orange. Underside of body is jet black with “knee” joints black beneath as well. This ventral pattern varies little and is fairly diagnostic for the species.
- Eyes: Eye arrangement typical of wolf spiders. Total of eight; note pair of large median eyes.
- Legs: Legs are long and relatively thick; longer in male in proportion to the body. Legs appear soft and furry to the naked eye. “Knee” joints are black beneath.
- Body: Cephalothorax and abdomen nearly equal in size. These are very robust spiders.
Range
Found throughout the United States and southern Ontario, but uncommon in the Pacific Northwest. Range extends south into Baja California, as well.
Habitat
This spider is typically found in arid habitats such as deserts, prairies, glades, and open fields and pastures.
Web
This is a hunting spider that does not spin a prey-catching snare. They usually live in silk-lined burrows surmounted by a turret of silk and grass at the entrance. The spider sits in wait at the mouth of its burrow by night, or ventures out to hunt on foot.
Season
Mature specimens may be found at almost any time of year because adult females live an additional few years after maturity. Typically mating takes place in autumn and the females lay their eggs the following spring.
Food
Prey is large insects that the spider can overpower.
Life Cycle
After mating in the fall, the males die. The females live over to the next year, and sometimes even another year after that, laying their eggs in the spring. Egg sac is a pale sphere carried from the spinnerets of the adult female. An average count per sac is 100-150 eggs. The spiderlings will emerge from the egg sac in summer and ride on top of their mother until their next molt, after which they disperse.
