Garden Wolf Spider

Structure, Appearance and Characteristics

• Crawling / Hunting spider.
• Body size (approx): Female 20-25mm, Male 15-20mm
• Colour is drab with dark brown or black heads with lighter markings that can resemble a Union Jack pattern.
• Body may have a dark bell-shaped mark and a series of find black V shaped lines and whitish spots tapering to a V towards the back.
• Legs are usually brown or grey, and can have lighter rings around the middle section.
• From the front, 2 large and 2 smaller pairs of eyes are evident.
• The 2 large fang-bearing bumps have a small, distinctive orange patch on the side.
• Round egg sac.
• Carries young on its back.
• Lives 1-2 years.

Habitat

Often found in the garden, where they dig burrows in the soil or live amongst the leaf litter. Commonly these spiders enter low-set brick homes.

Pest Status

If mishandled they may bite and cause rapid pulse, dizziness, nausea, swelling and persistent pain and tingling. Bacterial infection is a known side-effect of bite from this group of spiders.