Brown Recluse Spider ID

[Tym Hollerup]

I live in Sheboygan, WI and I know that we typically don't get Brown Recluse Spiders. However, I really have a feeling that I found one last night! I caught it and have it living in a deli cup. So I have a few questions...
1. Is this a Brown Recluse (Loxosceles reclusa)
2. Whatever this is, what is the proper care for it?
3. If this is a Loxosceles reclusa, how do I get them out of my house?
4. Are these as dangerous (or worse even) than a Black Widow?

 

[paassatt]

Not Loxosceles reclusa. Looks like something from the family Lycosidae, but the flash from the camera makes it hard to see it very well.

 

[Tym Hollerup]

A Little Better Picture

This may be a Wolf Spider, but I'm not sure. Can anyone still tell me how dangerous these are and what the proper care for one is? I caught it in the house and have no idea how to care for it. It's really fast, runs around a lot, and can't climb up the sides of the deli container at all.

 

[paassatt]

Much better picture, and yes, it's Lycosidae. One of the people more educated when it comes to true spiders will be able to tell you a genus and species. As far as danger is concerend, they'll bite if provoked enough (obviously) but "dangerous" isn't an adjective I'd use.

 

[Malhavoc's]

they are harmless, will eat almost anything they can catch, rather fasccinating and very beneficial

 

[jsloan]

1. Is this a Brown Recluse (Loxosceles reclusa)

No. This is a wolf spider, Trochosa terricola. It is a female, and at this time of year is probably an adult.

2. Whatever this is, what is the proper care for it?

Like you've got it. Throw in a fly every couple of days. Don't let it dry out. They need water.

4. Are these as dangerous (or worse even) than a Black Widow?

No, this spider is harmless and nothing to worry about

Here are more pictures and information on this species:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/273981

 

[Tym Hollerup]

[YOUTUBE]FZ9GGLm4Hs0&feature=channel_video_title[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Ecstasy]

I know they said it's not a recluse, but recluse's are bad business. I would rather get nailed by a Black Widow. I've seen some recluse bites.

 

[Silberrücken]

They need water.

+1

All my Wolfs, even the Pardosas, get some type of water dish. (juvies, subs, & adults, that is.) Wolfs drink more water than any other spiders I have kept, including Jumpers.

Also give it a small fake plant with "leaves"... they love to hide/rest under the leaves.

Nice find!

S.

 

[Tym Hollerup]

+1

All my Wolfs, even the Pardosas, get some type of water dish. (juvies, subs, & adults, that is.) Wolfs drink more water than any other spiders I have kept, including Jumpers.

Also give it a small fake plant with "leaves"... they love to hide/rest under the leaves.

Nice find!

S.

Is it big enough for a water dish of sorts yet? How big will this spider get anyway? She seems pretty small now.

 

[loxoscelesfear]

the spider may be an adult, depending on species. a bottle cap will be a sufficient water source.

 

[Kris-wIth-a-K]

It's an adult... To me... An adult means it can be bred.. soo in that case yes. An adult worlf spider.. If you go out in your front yard at night with a flashlight you can see their eyes shine in the light.

 

[jsloan]

Is it big enough for a water dish of sorts yet? How big will this spider get anyway? She seems pretty small now.

A shallow cap from a small medicine bottle is enough for a water dish.

This is a small to medium sized wolf spider. Adult females have a maximum leg span around 1 inch. However, size alone is not a good indicator of adulthood. Many adult females are considerably smaller, as if they go through one less molt than other individuals. Females can be reliably identified as adults by the presence of a sclerotized epigyne between the booklungs on the underside of the abdomen (which will look like a dark dot through a magnifying glass), as in this picture:

These are nice spiders to keep, but difficult to breed right now. Most of the females you capture at this time of the season have already mated. Many will lay eggs in captivity, though. If you want to actually breed male with female, wait until later in the summer, around the end of July and capture some immature males and females, raise them to adulthood and see if they will mate. This species often has a second generation of adults in the fall that will produce eggs before winter.