Wolf Spiders

Lately I have been seeing more and more wolf spiders around my home. Apparently, I’m not the only one. So I decided to do some research of my own.

Wolf spiders are usually brown, tan, or gray with dark stripes on their hairy bodies. They are usually one to two inches long. Their camouflage color and ability to move quickly keeps them safe from predators.

They have excellent eyesight due to the fact that they have eight eyes. Yep, that’s right – eight eyes! Four eyes on the bottom, two very large eyes in the middle, and two medium eyes on the sides right above the middle row.

They do not build webs to catch food. They hunt on the ground for their food. They can be found just about anywhere. In homes they are normally found around doors, windows, house plants, and in garages.

It is my understanding that wolf spiders are venomous (almost all spiders are considered venomous; however, they are not poisonous. Their bite can be very painful to humans. It can cause swelling, redness, and itching. Some steps to take if bitten include:

–          Elevating the arm or leg to minimize swelling.

–          Apply a cold compress to the affected area to prevent the spread of venom.

–          Wash the affected area with a mild soap.

–          Apply antibiotic cream to the affected area.

Contact medical personnel if symptoms last more than a week or if the affected area appears to be severe, discolored, or infected at any time.

If you are interested in more information about wolf spiders, check out www.livescience.com. Also, if these furry, eight-eyed creatures are lurking in or around your home and you would rather them not be there, contact our office for help at (912)236-5135.