Hobbies And Interests
Wolf Spiders
Wolf spiders are members of one of the most common spider families in the world, Lycosidae. They are typically small and brown or gray with oval bodies and long, jointed legs. Many wolf spiders have faint stripes on the tops of their abdomens. They have one very large pair of eyes and three smaller pairs of eyes. Though they can inflict a painful bite, they are not dangerous to people and are only aggressive when provoked. Wolf spiders carry their egg sacs on their abdomen and raise their abdomens off of the ground when they have an egg sac, causing their hind end to resemble a stinger.
Jumping Spiders
Jumping spiders are among the most distinctive looking spiders. They have very hairy, circular bodies and prominent eyes. Some people mistake them for tarantulas because of their hair and thick legs, but they are typically small, measuring less than an inch. They are members of the largest spider family in the world, Salticidae, with 500 named species. Jumping spiders are capable of jumping up to 40 times their own height, but are not aggressive.
Sac Spiders
Sac spiders build silk sacs in which to hide and lay eggs, but hunt for their prey rather than using a web. They are diverse in appearance, though most sac spiders are light brown, gray or yellow with partially transparent legs. The yellow sac spider, a common house spider, can deliver a medically significant bite. These spiders possess a necrotic venom that destroys tissue and leaves a painful wound. Though bite victims may become ill, a bite from this spider species is not typically life-threatening.
Crab Spiders
Unlike many other hunting spiders, some crab spiders build webs. Many, however, lie in wait for their prey on plants and flowers, and a few can change color to blend in with their surroundings. These spiders are named for their crablike appearance, with hard bodies that may have hornlike protrusions. Some crab spiders are very brightly colored and almost all are small, measuring less than 1 inch. They are unlikely to bite people and their bites are not dangerous, producing only a mild, itchy wound.