Striped Legged Spiders in Georgia

Physical Description

• Striped wolf spiders have distinguished stripes about their abdomen and legs. They look severely dangerous and are often confused with a similar, more lethal spider, the brown recluse. Striped wolf spiders resemble tiny tarantulas with their fury bodies, stout abdomens and long legs. Their bodies are compact, ranging from 1/2 to 2 inches, a trait that allows them to be very agile hunters.

Web

• One of the most distinct features of the striped wolf spider is its trapdoor web. This web is constructed around a funnel created from the spider's silk with a sheet of silk hinging from the front of the web. This door hides the spider from approaching prey. Any movement on the extension of the web beyond the door signals the spider to attack.

Behavior

• Striped wolf spiders usually live in groups sharing their burrows. They are also known to carry their young around on their abdomen. Their distinct pack and family habits loosely resemble the behavior of wolves, for which they were named. Striped wolf spiders prefer temperate climates and are active during both the day and night. They have distinct hunting techniques that often involve pursuing their prey "on foot." Like other species of the wolf spider genus, striped wolf spiders are known to jump. They are often called jumping spiders because of this trait.

Venom

• Although the striped wolf spider looks threatening, it is actually no more harmful than your average garden spider. Because of their quickness, wolf spiders rarely feel the need to attack humans, unless they are cornered. If bitten, their venom results in the common symptoms of spider bites; some swelling and itching.