Question about Wolfie....

[lilmountaingrrl]

I obtained this spider from my house's basement in the beginning of October, and have had him (or her) since. Wolfie is a ravenous eater, and never passes up a meal. It's the most delightful spider to watch, and one of my favorites (then again I say that about all my babies, though!).

The question I have, is this: I posted on Arachnoboards when I first found Wolfie, inquiring about what type of spider it was. I was informed that it is a type of wolf spider. I was wondering if anyone could tell me specifically what type it is. As the pictures show, this spider is a nice soft gray color, with a black underbelly (with a bit of yellow on it's belly too!). It's got black striping on the underneath of it's legs, and has some small white speckles on it also.

My mother-in-law insists that no wolf spider is as big as Wolfie, but I know she is wrong. Wolfie's body is a little over an inch long, but has a nice legspan that makes it seem bigger then it probably really is.

Also, I'd love to breed Wolfie, and dont know how to go about telling what sex he (or she) is. So far, Wolfie has molted twice in my possession. Both times the exuvium was pretty torn up after the molt. Is there anyway I can sex Wolfie without having an exuvium handy? Any help answering my questions would be greatly appreciated

Here's some close up pics of Wolfie... sorry if the first two are way too big, and the quality of the 3rd picture leaves much to be desired. It was taken through his enclosure's plastic panel with crappy lighting :

 

[Aubrey Sidwell]

It looks like a Carolina Wolf Spider to me. Lycosa carolinensis. They can get much larger than the 1 inch size you speak of. I have seen one that was 3 1/2 inches. They live for 3-5 years depending on a variety of circumstances and I am unfortunately not able to help you with sexing of this species.

 

[Steven]

Wolfie looks indeed like a Hogna carolinensis
i'm raising a bunch of slings of these myself as i also would love to breed these awsome US wolfspiders

guess it's still to small to sex it,... better wait a couple of molts

when they are fullgrown they are quite easy to sex.
(before their ultimate molt i haven't noticed any difference)
males normally have clearly enlarged pedipalps and are somewhat different colored then females (not so sure about this with H.carolinensis)
And also have a bit different structure,... slightly longer legs for example,...
maybe it becomes more clearly with some pictures

here's the male of an African spec. (Geolycosa sp.)

and the female (Geolycosa sp.)

here's a topic on my breeding-project of these African wolfspider:
http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=55082

i have no experience in mating US wolfspiders but i guess it will probarly be almost the same


PS: i love the shades of grey on your Wolfie :drool:

 

[lilmountaingrrl]

It looks like a Carolina Wolf Spider to me. Lycosa carolinensis. They can get much larger than the 1 inch size you speak of. I have seen one that was 3 1/2 inches. They live for 3-5 years depending on a variety of circumstances and I am unfortunately not able to help you with sexing of this species.

When you say that you have seen a Lycosa carolinensis that was about 3 1/2 inches, is that just the body length without legs included, or are the spider's legs included in that figure? It would be marvelous if Wolfie still have quite a bit of growing to do! Thanks so much for your input

 

[lilmountaingrrl]

Wolfie looks indeed like a Hogna carolinensis
i'm raising a bunch of slings of these myself as i also would love to breed these awsome US wolfspiders ....

when they are fullgrown they are quite easy to sex.
(before their ultimate molt i haven't noticed any difference)
males normally have clearly enlarged pedipalps and are somewhat different colored then females (not so sure about this with H.carolinensis)
And also have a bit different structure,... slightly longer legs for example,...
maybe it becomes more clearly with some pictures....

here's a topic on my breeding-project of these African wolfspider:
http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=55082

Wow! thanks for the great info, the link to the thread about your breeding project pertaining to the African Wolfspiders, and for the excellent photos!! :worship: The photos you posted look so much like my Wolfie..... I am definately going to have to get my hands on some more of these, because they are just sooo beautiful, and have so much personality. One cant help but fall in love with them!

PS: i love the shades of grey on your Wolfie

Thanks! So do I!!! People that dont like spiders, or just dont care about them at all think wolf spiders are pests, and something to be squashed.... I wish they could see these creatures for the beauties that they truly are!

 

[Stefan2209]

European wolf

Hi,

nice to see another wolf-spider enthusiast on the board!

For your pleasure some pics of a european wolf-spider species, Lycosa tarantula. This ones my biggest specimen named "Seven", still a lot of growing to do... :razz:

Enjoy....

Greetings,

Stefan

 

[Banshee05]

hello guys!
i'm also very interested wolf spiders i have 9 different species, and i can tell you that l.tarantula is not the biggest one, i get some from brazil and the body size without chelizeren was 63mm and she isnt`t adult till yet, i will take some pix in februar when i get my new camera take care.
my collection:
l.tarentula
l.erythog.
h.radiata
l.narbonesis
l. sped ex south madrid (completly orange body,very nice)
3 different species from brazil
2 different species from south africa (tanzania)
and 1 spec. from egypt

on 4 of this i have slings, and 3 others eggsacs, so hopfully i can show you soon some pix.

 

[Bungholio]

hello guys!
i'm also very interested wolf spiders i have 9 different species, and i can tell you that l.tarantula is not the biggest one, i get some from brazil and the body size without chelizeren was 63mm and she isnt`t adult till yet, i will take some pix in februar when i get my new camera take care.

Damn what a monster! Never saw a such big wolfie! :?

 

[Banshee05]

Damn what a monster! Never saw a such big wolfie! :?

yes i also didn't believe my dealer first,but when i get them in november, i believe him one of this species is carriying an eggsac, finger cross

 

[Bungholio]

Can´t what for the photos of your monster Banshee05! :clap:

 

[Tarangela]

I haven't seen one w/ the eye placement like the one in the pic before! That is wild looking!

I have one right now that is about 3" (leg span). I named it Bandit, b/c the way it has this black mask looking thing around its eyes. It sits w/ its legs very straight, and 2 paired together. Like the front 2 on each side are very close, and the rear 2 on each side are really close. It has the barbs (hairs) sticking out like the pics of the one in this post. And it just molted last week.

It is VERY fast, much faster than my T's! I love those reflective eyes!

I agree about people that don't like them. I hate it when people snear their noses up when I mention Bandit. They have no idea what they are missing out on!!! It loves laying on the inside of a toilet paper roll

 

[Tegenaria]

What a coool looking spider!

 

[lilmountaingrrl]

Hi,

nice to see another wolf-spider enthusiast on the board!

For your pleasure some pics of a european wolf-spider species, Lycosa tarantula. This ones my biggest specimen named "Seven", still a lot of growing to do... :razz:

Enjoy....

Greetings,

Stefan

What a beauty!!! Your wolf spider is absolutely gorgeous..... thanks so much for sharing the photos of it. It's always great to know that there's plenty of other people out there that love wolf spiders as much as I do!

 

[lilmountaingrrl]

hello guys!
i'm also very interested wolf spiders i have 9 different species, and i can tell you that l.tarantula is not the biggest one, i get some from brazil and the body size without chelizeren was 63mm and she isnt`t adult till yet, i will take some pix in februar when i get my new camera take care.
my collection:
l.tarentula
l.erythog.
h.radiata
l.narbonesis
l. sped ex south madrid (completly orange body,very nice)
3 different species from brazil
2 different species from south africa (tanzania)
and 1 spec. from egypt

on 4 of this i have slings, and 3 others eggsacs, so hopfully i can show you soon some pix.

Wow! I cant wait to see pictures of the huge monster that you received from Brazil. You'll definately have to post the photos, because now everyone will want to see them Your collection sounds amazing..... is one of the species your favorite, and if so which one?

 

[lilmountaingrrl]

I just had to add a post with a picture of my new baby wolf spider. (My nephew found him today with his uncle, when they were searching for isopods in the backyard.)

All I can say is that the new little spider made my day! He is pretty tiny still, and is absolutely adorable He's just the cutest thing ever!!! He's got the prettiest reddish-brown colors, and is kind of mottled looking.

I'll take better pictures of him once he gets settled in.....

 

[murinuz]

wolf spiders...

hi, lilmountaingrrl nice pics:clap:
I have to ask you, what about Lycosa singoriensis???
Last year I have caught few of them.. they´re huge
but they always die..I dont know why! I have to study more about these beautyful spieces...i want to breed them

 

[Stefan2209]

Hi,

yummy, what a nice spider! :clap:

You´re one lucky guy for sure, living in an area where those guys roam free. If you should ever happen to breed those successfull, let us know, i´d definitely be interested in some trade.

Post some more pics of this if you have, please! :worship:

Greetings,

Stefan

 

[lilmountaingrrl]

Murinuz, that is one beautiful spider!!! It would be awesome if you are ever successful at breeding those..... I'd want some for sure!

 

[murinuz]

hi
Im glad that my post caused you such good feelings..
I dont have more fotos:?

Im about to see what could I do.. you know.. it is ilegal to catch, keep or breed these spideys its rare and few people here dont now yet, if this spiece do exist

but i know where are few of them...;P
last fall i was about to go see IF som of these spiders are on that area, and that day I ve caught 5 exemplars (i didnt have more boxes, than it would be more) and I tried to keep them in best conditions.. but unsuccessfully:8o

I wil catch ONLY one female and ONLY one or two males to breed them
than, if I go lucky with sac... we can talk about details

stay tuned...




endy

 

[lilmountaingrrl]

Murinuz, I will keep my fingers crossed that you have good success with breeding your Lycosa singoriensis. They are incredibly beautiful! :clap:

It is too bad that it is illegal to capture and breed these.... if they are rare, then it seems that captive breeding would be beneficial. You said that you havent been able to keep them successfully as of yet. What conditions are you keeping them in? What type of environment have you been locating them in? I really hope that you can successfully figure out what it is they are needing, because it would be amazing to see babies!!!

Best of luck to you (and them!)