Spiderbloggers

While I was out checking on the Theridulas I found some wolf spiders in the leaf litter. I found what appears to be an adult female and adult male. They look like the same species but I am not positive. To me I am thinking Pirata sp.





Do you think they could be out looking for mates in the warm weather. I wonder if they will mate and produce eggs very early in the spring. Kind of get a head start on the other species.

Definitely looks like a female and mature male. But is it warm there? I thought that it was really cold?

Your wolf spiders are free ranging hunters, aren't they? Not burrowers? We have both here, but I am so much more familiar with the burrowers (Lycosa godeffroyi) because they are large and stay put. I did see a small free-ranger with a web sac yesterday in the leaf litter, which I had to clear because it was close to the house and we are in extreme fire danger weather. My green ground cover frizzled in the heat and became inflammable leaf litter in a single day. So it all had to come out. I did leave a little tiny bit over the little wolf spider when I guided her in next to a big pot.

I must take more notice of them and the time of year. So much spider watching to do!

What time of year have you seen them with egg sacs? Mind you, spiders don't mind mating and then the female hanging onto the sperm for months before she lays.

It is very cold here! The day that I observed these wolf spiders was fairly warm though 57F (14C) and sunny. There were many other wolf spiders scurrying about. They all looks to be the same species. I am trying to figure out which species. Their body size is about 1cm. I have seen wolf spiders with egg sacs living under logs as early as April. But I don't recollect seeing any before then. I will be watching closer this year. I'm thinking that the adults may mate during the winter on warm days and the female store the sperm until she is ready for egg making in the early spring. That would allow them to make their egg sacs early while other species were out hunting mates.

Today, since the weather is warm (70F, 21C) there are hundreds of little wolf spiders all over the leaf litter in the yard! There are adult males and females. They are the same species that I have posted pictures of previously in this blog. I can only assume that they are out mating again before the next arctic blast!

Wow! Wonderful - isn't it great seeing lots of little ones? Mine have covered their burrows in the heat - all except Sapphire, but she wasn't out tonight. But I haven't seen any of them. It is much cooler today, so hopefully they will uncover and come back. I worry that some may not.

The gorgeous wolf spider (Lycosa godeffroyi) in this photo was very confident. Then she disappeared and covered her burrow as they do when they breed. This photo was taken when she emerged again. There are a few young to the top left. Top right is her egg sac which she has just ejected from the burrow. It wasn't there an hour or so before. I have kept it. There is only the one small opening where the young must have come out. About a week later, her burrow was full of ants and I lost her.

What cute little wolf spiders. I hope she managed to escape before the ants took over, ants seem to take a toll on spiders around here. Actually it seems like everything takes a toll on our wolf spiders. I have found them being eaten by many different kinds of spiders, insects and birds.

It's now winter here, and my report on winter wolf spiders will be very brief. I have two burrows only, and haven't seen the owners yet. And no wanderers. I'll keep watching. Is it just that they are mostly tiny?