Can you release baby Carolina wolf spiders in New Jersey?

[SalticusScenicusStar]

I'm planning to maybe breed Carolina wolf spiders, can you release a few in New Jersey? No back stories.

 

[Poonjab]

If they are found there, then why not.

 

[Biollantefan54]

They are found in New Jersey so yes it’s fine to release them there

 

[viper69]

They are found in New Jersey so yes it’s fine to release them there

Are they native to NJ?

 

[Salmonsaladsandwich]

If the spiders aren't locally sourced, would not. Even if there are local wolf spiders of the same species there's a good chance the local wolf spiders are genetically distinct from wherever yours came from and have adaptations to the local environment, so the released ones will either be unlikely to survive or mess with the genetics of the local population and destroy its uniqueness. It seems that H. carolinensis are fairly uncommon in New Jersey, so suitable habitat where they will not die out or be outcompeted by other species is probably rare (H. carolinensis prefer open fields and scrubby areas while New Jersey is mostly forested) and the released spiders will perish in most locations.

If you want to breed and release spiders I would use specimens that you catch yourself and release near where you found them. Go to an undisturbed field or forest edge at night with a flashlight and search for wolf spiders using their eyeshine and I'm sure you'll find some cool ones.

 

[Biollantefan54]

Are they native to NJ?

Yes, they have been found in New Jersey

 

[AphonopelmaTX]

It is ethical to release captive born babies of a spider, regardless of species, only if the following criteria is met:

A. You collected the male and female yourself or received them from someone who can tell you exactly where they were collected
B. You release any baby spiders only in the area the parents were collected
C. You confirm the species and that the species is native to the area you plan to release the babies

If any of these criteria are not met, or is questionable, do not release the spider babies!

 

[viper69]

Yes, they have been found in New Jersey

But are they a native species? Pythons are found in FL but are not a native species.

 

[Biollantefan54]

But are they a native species? Pythons are found in FL but are not a native species.

Ahh i see what you mean, i was going based on bugguide. I would assume yes but I actually don’t know

 

[Salmonsaladsandwich]

They are native to NJ, but for reasons mentioned above I still wouldn't release them except in the area where they were collected.