Wolf Spider ID

[Spepper]

Okay, obviously this is a wolf spider male, but what kind? This is the most colorful, most beautiful, boldest-patterned and largest wolf spider I've found here. I was shocked when I found him.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/114543195@N07/14557018363/https://www.flickr.com/people/114543195@N07/

 

[Smokehound714]

Schizocosa mccooki male. Unsure if he's mature or not. Feed him!

 

[Spepper]

He's absolutely the most beautiful wolf I've ever found here. Thank you for IDing him! Hmmm, I guess I assumed he was mature from his large size. As for feeding, he's chowing down on a cricket as I speak. He was also thirsty, so he got water too. Now I want a female, if the males are that big and beautiful. LOL Any ideas on where I could find one? This guy was actually found in the foyer of a church (I'm sure not his usual habitat, haha.)

 

[jecraque]

In my neck of the woods this genus is easily found on leaf litter in edge habitat, less commonly in open areas (rare in heavily wooded ones). I'd try going out with a flashlight near dusk and trying to find them with eye-shine. Check to make sure your male is mature before putting him in with a female, though (and vice versa as the males will mature first in many species)--it's much easier than sexing mygalomorphs.

 

[Spepper]

I know how to tell if a spider is male (bulbous palps), but how do you tell if they're mature?

 

[jecraque]

If there is visible structure/sclerotization/complexity, they're mature. If it just looks bulbous but is otherwise undifferentiated from a leg, it's likely penultimate. Likewise with females you would check for an epigynum and pretty much any complexity (beyond a slightly dark spot) would indicate maturity.

 

[Spepper]

Thanks jecraque. Based on that information I think he's penultimate.

 

[jecraque]

No problem--good luck finding him a girlfriend!

 

[Smokehound714]

Wolf spiders are easily sexable before maturity. males develop their emboli early on and may actually be sexually mature before their ultimate molt.

Schizocosa is no exception, you can sex them easily as early as 4i.

If you want more, try looking around ground squirrel burrows, as mccooki is a commensal species with these rodents, and hangs out at the entrance, waiting for prey to walk by.

If you want to catch them easily, get a small thin stick, or even a Q-tip, and touch their front legs, they usually grab it thinking it's prey, and you can drop them into a container.


These wolves are notable for being diurnal as well, though good luck spotting them in daylight