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Pets and Animals
Bugs
Spiders and Other Arachnids
How to Identify a Wolf Spider Download Article Co-authored by Shweta Sharma
Last Updated: November 21, 2025 Fact Checked
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Identifying a Wolf Spider
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Recognizing Wolf Spider Habitats
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This article was co-authored by Shweta Sharma. Shweta Sharma is a Biologist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). With nearly ten years of experience, she specializes in insect management, integrated pest management, insect behavior, resistance management, ecology, and biological control. She earned her PhD in Urban Entomology and her MS in Environmental Horticulture from the University of Florida. She also holds a BS in Agriculture from the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences, Nepal. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,079,004 times.
Wolf spiders don't fit the traditional spider archetype. They don’t spin webs and don't catch their prey in them; instead, they stalk and hunt their prey - just as wolves do. Although it's true that wolf spiders look very similar to Tarantulas, wolf spiders are generally smaller and from a different family of spider. The scientific name for wolf spiders is Lycosidae (Greek for “wolf.”)
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Method 1 Method 1 of 2:
Identifying a Wolf Spider
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1 Look for a wolf spider's physical features. Here are some key characteristics: Hairy, brown to gray in color with various markings or lines, females are 1-3/8” (3 4mm) and males are 3/4" (19 mm) long.[1]XResearch source
2 Look at the arrangement of their eight eyes. Their eyes comprise three rows; the first row has four small eyes; the second row has two larger eyes and the third row has two medium-sized eyes. The two eyes in the center of their faces are distinctively larger than the other six eyes. Advertisement
3 See if the spider has three tarsal claws to make sure it’s a wolf spider. A tarsal is the final segment of an insect's leg.[2]X Trustworthy Source Penn State ExtensionEducational organization dedicated to delivering science-based information to people, businesses, and communities Go to source In the wolf spider's case there are three claws at the end of them.
4 Look at the arrangement of the fangs. Wolf spiders have fangs that resemble pincers, with a side-to-side orientation. However, this is true of all species within the infraorder Araneomorphae, of which the wolf spider is a member. The infraorder Araneomorphae contains a vast number of species that as a group are known as "true spiders", so the fang orientation is not exclusive to wolf spiders.[3]XResearch source
However, this may be helpful in distinguishing a wolf spider from a small tarantula, because tarantulas are a member of infra-order Mygalomorphae and have vertically-oriented fangs.
5 Don’t confuse the wolf spider with a brown recluse spider. The wolf spider has the same brownish-grey coloration, but does not have the violin-shaped marking behind its head that a brown recluse has.[4]X Expert Source Shweta SharmaBiologistExpert Interview Also, the wolf spider has shorter legs than the brown recluse or any other web dwelling spider.
6 Check for hairs covering its abdomen.[5]XResearch source This is why you may confuse the wolf spider with a Tarantula, but most wolf spiders are a great deal smaller than most Tarantulas.
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 2:
Recognizing Wolf Spider Habitats
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1 Check if the spider retreats to a burrow. Examine the areas around your doors and windows, both around your house and any outbuildings you may have. If, you find one moving towards a burrow or crevice, instead of a web, that's further evidence that it's a wolf spider. However, the tarantulas and the trap doors also burrow, though they are usually quite a bit larger than the wolf spider.
2 Look for wolf spiders stalking their prey along the ground. Spiders that spin webs will rarely be found on the ground. Wolf spiders are very comfortable there and will rarely climb tall structures.[6]XResearch source
3 Look for a white sack attached to the back of the abdomen in the early spring and summer. Female wolf spiders carry their eggs at the back of their abdomens.[7]XResearch source
4 Check to see if the female is carrying her spiderlings on her back. This is a trait unique to wolf spiders.
5 Be aware that the wolf spider can be found hunting during the day and the night. You'll notice that most of the wolf spider's prey (crickets, caterpillars, etc.) can be found out at day and night, as well. If you have a lot these bugs around, you can expect to find a wolf spider nearby.[8]XResearch source
6 Watch the speed that the spider runs. Wolf spiders are incredibly fast. They are hard to catch due to their extreme speeds.[9]XResearch source
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Expert Q&A
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Question Should I leave wolf spiders alone? Shweta Sharma Biologist Shweta Sharma is a Biologist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). With nearly ten years of experience, she specializes in insect management, integrated pest management, insect behavior, resistance management, ecology, and biological control. She earned her PhD in Urban Entomology and her MS in Environmental Horticulture from the University of Florida. She also holds a BS in Agriculture from the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences, Nepal. Shweta Sharma Biologist Expert Answer Yeah, you should. They are not dangerous, so there's no need to handle them. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 10 Helpful 21
Question Can a wolf spider kill you? wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer While a person with a strong allergy to wolf spider venom might have a strong reaction, being bitten usually results in minor pain and itchiness that does not require any treatment. It does not appear that there are records of a person ever dying from a wolf spider bite. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 7 Helpful 56
Question Are wolf spiders dangerous to humans? wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer Wolf spiders can give a bite that can be painful and itchy, but almost never very dangerous unless the person has an allergy to the venom or a weak immune system. See a doctor immediately if you notice symptoms like dizziness, nausea or a rapid heartbeat. However, wolf spiders are not aggressive at all and only bite when provoked. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 6 Helpful 57
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Tips
Wolf spiders are actually quite shy and are likely to flee if you approach them, but they will bite you if you pick them up. Their bite isn't dangerous however.[10]X Expert Source Shweta SharmaBiologistExpert InterviewThanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Wolf spiders typically live for about two years, and are preyed on by hunting wasps. Thanks Helpful 96 Not Helpful 50
You can control the wolf spider population around your home if you keep your grass cut low and your shrubbery well trimmed. It’s also wise to keep piles of rocks or lumber on your property to a minimum. Thanks Helpful 21 Not Helpful 7
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Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
Wolf spiders may bite you if they think they're going to get squished. I've held plenty of wolf spiders with no problem, though. Just make sure you aren't being too assertive, and try to be gentle.
The wolf spider is venomous, but their venom is on the weak side.
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Warnings
If you have a weak or half dead wolf spider in a container, you shouldn't give it any insects that can fight back such as live ants for food. Thanks Helpful 26 Not Helpful 3
While the wolf spider is venomous, avoid killing wolf spiders; their venom will barely have an effect on you if you manage to get bitten but they are not aggressive. In fact, because they eat so many harmful insects, they are critically important to the ecosystem. Thanks Helpful 28 Not Helpful 8
Do not handle wolf spiders. Although the wolf spider is relatively calm species of spider, it has been known to bite. Their bite has been known to be quite painful. Thanks Helpful 18 Not Helpful 11
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Co-authored by: Shweta Sharma Biologist This article was co-authored by Shweta Sharma. Shweta Sharma is a Biologist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). With nearly ten years of experience, she specializes in insect management, integrated pest management, insect behavior, resistance management, ecology, and biological control. She earned her PhD in Urban Entomology and her MS in Environmental Horticulture from the University of Florida. She also holds a BS in Agriculture from the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences, Nepal. This article has been viewed 1,079,004 times. 29 votes - 86% Co-authors: 29Updated: November 21, 2025 Views: 1,079,004 Categories: Spiders and Other ArachnidsArticle SummaryX
To identify a wolf spider, check the spider for key characteristics like a hairy body, brown-gray color, and markings or lines. Next, you will see 3 rows of eyes, including 4 small eyes on top, 2 larger eyes in the middle, and 2 medium-sized eyes on the bottom. If you can see its claws, there will be 3 tarsal claws if you're looking at a wolf spider. Finally, check your surroundings to see if the spider moves towards a burrow rather than a web, which is a sign that it's a wolf spider. To learn how to distinguish between a wolf spider and a brown recluse, read on!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
Vickie Penton
Jun 2, 2020
"While picking up trash in the yard, I went to pick up a golf ball, when much to my surprise, It was HUGE Carolina Wolf spider carrying her egg sac! She was as big as a tarantula! I was so intrigued. I tried to get a closer look but, she moved faster than my reflexes.Then in a split second, she was gone. I researched as much as I could about her. I had no idea how important they were to the ecosystem. Your article gave me a lot of interesting facts about them and I'm now a wolf spider fan! Thanks!"..." more Rated this article:
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Shweta Sharma Biologist Co-authors: 29Updated: November 21, 2025 Views: 1,079,00486% of readers found this article helpful. 29 votes - 86% Click a star to add your vote
Vickie Penton
Jun 2, 2020
"While picking up trash in the yard, I went to pick up a golf ball, when much to my surprise, It was HUGE Carolina Wolf spider carrying her egg sac! She was as big as a tarantula! I was so intrigued. I tried to get a closer look but, she moved faster than my reflexes.Then in a split second, she was gone. I researched as much as I could about her. I had no idea how important they were to the ecosystem. Your article gave me a lot of interesting facts about them and I'm now a wolf spider fan! Thanks!"..." more Rated this article:
Sara Wortman
Mar 24, 2016
"If it weren't for this article, I wouldn't have known that the huge spider on my daughter's bookbag was a wolf spider not a recluse. We're afraid of spiders so it ended up being killed. I wasn't going to take the chance on it being a recluse. Next time I see one, especially outside, I'll leave it alone since I now know so much about them and their importance. It also makes me feel safer that if one does bite us, it's not that harmful like a recluse."..." more
Mike Lundberg
Jul 21, 2016
"Two days ago I was bitten by a spider. The spider got away, and I didn't really know about the bite until hours later (I thought it was just an injury from turning over a canoe). We saw the spider on my arm and running on the lake toward shore. My neighbor said it looked like a Brown Recluse, I said no. Viewing your bite and spider pictures, I'm sure it was a Wolf spider. Thanks for the detailed info and clear illustrations."..." more
Eve Navarro
Jun 18, 2016
"I have a couple of spiders living in window frames. They are quite large. They spin a web that is like a shelf. They love to eat the crickets I toss onto their webs. They sure look like wolf spiders but the "shelf" web has me confused. No egg sacks and I don't know if they wander around when I'm not watching. Still a mystery, but I'm enjoying observing and reading about them. Thank you for the fabulous info. "..." more
Lynn Jeffery
Jun 8, 2018
"I was about to put on my sneaker when I discovered a very large brown spider inside! I live in Vermont and do not often encounter insects in my shoes. This article helped me to identify it as most likely to be a wolf spider. I covered the shoe with a basket at hand and took it outside... fast!"..." more Rated this article: Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Co-authored by: Shweta Sharma Biologist This article was co-authored by Shweta Sharma. Shweta Sharma is a Biologist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). With nearly ten years of experience, she specializes in insect management, integrated pest management, insect behavior, resistance management, ecology, and biological control. She earned her PhD in Urban Entomology and her MS in Environmental Horticulture from the University of Florida. She also holds a BS in Agriculture from the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences, Nepal. This article has been viewed 1,079,004 times. 29 votes - 86% Co-authors: 29 Updated: November 21, 2025 Views: 1,079,004 Categories: Spiders and Other Arachnids Article SummaryX
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1 Look for a wolf spider's physical features. Here are some key characteristics: Hairy, brown to gray in color with various markings or lines, females are 1-3/8” (3 4mm) and males are 3/4" (19 mm) long.[1] 
2 Look at the arrangement of their eight eyes. Their eyes comprise three rows; the first row has four small eyes; the second row has two larger eyes and the third row has two medium-sized eyes. The two eyes in the center of their faces are distinctively larger than the other six eyes. Advertisement 
3 See if the spider has three tarsal claws to make sure it’s a wolf spider. A tarsal is the final segment of an insect's leg.[2] In the wolf spider's case there are three claws at the end of them. 
4 Look at the arrangement of the fangs. Wolf spiders have fangs that resemble pincers, with a side-to-side orientation. However, this is true of all species within the infraorder Araneomorphae, of which the wolf spider is a member. The infraorder Araneomorphae contains a vast number of species that as a group are known as "true spiders", so the fang orientation is not exclusive to wolf spiders.[3] 
5 Don’t confuse the wolf spider with a brown recluse spider. The wolf spider has the same brownish-grey coloration, but does not have the violin-shaped marking behind its head that a brown recluse has.[4] Also, the wolf spider has shorter legs than the brown recluse or any other web dwelling spider. 
6 Check for hairs covering its abdomen.[5] This is why you may confuse the wolf spider with a Tarantula, but most wolf spiders are a great deal smaller than most Tarantulas. Advertisement 
1 Check if the spider retreats to a burrow. Examine the areas around your doors and windows, both around your house and any outbuildings you may have. If, you find one moving towards a burrow or crevice, instead of a web, that's further evidence that it's a wolf spider. However, the tarantulas and the trap doors also burrow, though they are usually quite a bit larger than the wolf spider. 
2 Look for wolf spiders stalking their prey along the ground. Spiders that spin webs will rarely be found on the ground. Wolf spiders are very comfortable there and will rarely climb tall structures.[6] 
3 Look for a white sack attached to the back of the abdomen in the early spring and summer. Female wolf spiders carry their eggs at the back of their abdomens.[7] 
4 Check to see if the female is carrying her spiderlings on her back. This is a trait unique to wolf spiders. 
5 Be aware that the wolf spider can be found hunting during the day and the night. You'll notice that most of the wolf spider's prey (crickets, caterpillars, etc.) can be found out at day and night, as well. If you have a lot these bugs around, you can expect to find a wolf spider nearby.[8] 
6 Watch the speed that the spider runs. Wolf spiders are incredibly fast. They are hard to catch due to their extreme speeds.[9] Advertisement 
Shweta Sharma Biologist Shweta Sharma is a Biologist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). With nearly ten years of experience, she specializes in insect management, integrated pest management, insect behavior, resistance management, ecology, and biological control. She earned her PhD in Urban Entomology and her MS in Environmental Horticulture from the University of Florida. She also holds a BS in Agriculture from the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences, Nepal. 
wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. 