The Carolina wolf spider is without doubt one of the largest spiders in North America, and due to their measurement, folks usually mistake them for tarantulas. They don’t spin webs however as an alternative hunt their prey, usually mounting an ambush from their floor burrow.
DEAR JOAN: The most important spider I ever noticed — and in line with my critter ebook, the most important wolf spider in North America — is the Carolina wolf spider, and I used to be lucky sufficient to search out one inside my home final evening.
It was immense. In hand, with its legs prolonged, it could have nearly coated my palm — a couple of 2-inch span. The stuff of nightmares.
Judging by the dimensions, in line with my critter ebook, it was a feminine. No, I didn’t kill her. I trapped her in a jar and took her exterior the place I attempted to drop her right into a leafy bush, however she didn’t just like the bush, and took off throughout the road. I final noticed her heading for the neighbors.
I'm 82 years outdated and by no means noticed such a gargantuan spider earlier than. In accordance with my critter ebook, they vary all through america and Southern Canada, however are these items frequent? In our home?
Jean Myer, Mountain View
DEAR JEAN: Thanks for taking such excellent care with what could be, for some, a most unwelcome customer in the home. You clearly realized that irrespective of how massive the spider is, we're even larger and haven't any cause to worry.
Carolina wolf spiders are frequent within the Bay Space, however they spend nearly all of time open air so we don’t usually see them. They're a part of a category of spiders which can be hunters. As a substitute of spinning webs and seeing what may get entangled in them, wolf spiders search and ambush their prey. That may typically lead them into our properties, the place they’d actually somewhat not be. They most well-liked extra open locations, akin to fields, grassy expanses, stacks of firewood and floor particles and leaf litter.
Due to their massive measurement, they usually are mistaken for tarantulas, regardless of not trying that very similar to one.
Mating season can also discover the Carolina wolf spiders indoors, maybe in search of a quiet, romantic nook to consummate a quick romance. Prefer it does for a lot of creatures, mating takes place within the spring, however the dry winter may need inspired this spider to get an early begin on the season.
After mating, the feminine, which is the bigger of the pair, lays her eggs after which straps them to her physique, carrying them together with her wherever she goes.
To place your neighbors’ minds comfy, the chew of the wolf spider will be painful, very similar to a bee sting, however they aren't lethal and won't chew except significantly provoked. They preserve to themselves, however they're wonderful pals within the yard and backyard, consuming quite a few bugs that we don’t in any other case welcome.
DEAR JOAN: My canine goes out early morn to do his enterprise and stops to stare on the sky for perhaps 5 or extra minutes. No planes or birds, so what's he doing?
Jenifer Newfeld, Houston, Texas
DEAR JENIFER: He could be listening to one thing we don’t hear, smelling the air or seeing one thing that we simply don’t see. With their extraordinary senses, they will scent and listen to issues that aren’t apparent to us.
Maybe a neighbor cooks bacon each morning, or a fowl is quietly greeting the day. If he repeatedly begins staring on the sky, the ceiling or the wall for lengthy intervals, go to a vet. He may have a medical concern.
Have a query for Joan?
Use this type to submit questions. Pictures needs to be mailed individually to jmorris@bayareanewsgroup.com.