Wolf spider

Alopecosa spec.

The family of wolf spiders ( Lycosidae ) currently includes approximately 2300 species in 102 genera, among them also the harmless " tarantulas " (formerly Tarentula, mainly Alopecosa attributed ). Wolf spiders are the largest family of the superfamily of Lycosoidea.

With few exceptions, wolf spiders prey on insects not by nets, but waylay them on. Note the enlarged rear center eyes that are positioned directly forward. The sense of sight is for hunting, and the courtship of importance, but not as well developed in them as in jumping spiders. With its very strong chelicerae ( jaw claws ) the larger specimens can also penetrate the human skin. However, the amount and concentration of the poison is not enough even for the 3 cm large specimens to cause serious problems a human.

Way of life

The larger, native to Central Europe wolf spider ( Arctosa, Trochosa, some Alopecosa ) inhabit as most species of this family burrows, which they, like the wallpapering ( Atypus ) or trapdoor spiders ( Ctenizidae ) that line the inside with silk. Most other domestic species live in the herb layer or between stones where they invested themselves living fantasies.

At night they leave the hideout and go on the hunt: wait at favorable places that an insect comes by. From a few centimeters distance, the wolf spider rockets before and take the loot.

Members of the genus Pirata ( "Water Hunter") prefer the proximity of a standing body of water. On the smooth surface of the water without sinking they run and chase insects on the water surface.

Reproduction

The wolf spiders male approaches the female ready for mating with raised front pair of legs. The willingness to mate, the male smells probably already from a distance of one meter. The courtship behavior is also triggered when threads of a female ready for mating found. The male of Lycosa rabida vibrates with the abdomen on the substrate, then it performs a circular motion according to a fixed pattern with the pedipalps, in which the seed bags ( eyeball ) are located. This movement will be in an audible " Palpentrommeln " which is produced with a Stridulationsorgan.

During a break, the gravid females willing responds with knocking on the front legs and runs a few steps towards the males, which then starts the Balzbewegung again. This process continues until the two are almost touching; the first contact remains the females reserved. If it is at the opposite mistake also to a male, the courtship is answered immediately with a threatening stilted gait. In nocturnal species acoustic signals play a greater role in the day-active optical.

The male crawls from the front of the female and first leans on one side of the abdomen down to introduce the first palp. The female turns its abdomen from it. Then the second palp from the other side is inserted.

Brood care

Wolf spiders ( Lycosidae ) operate brood care. The egg sac is attached by wolf spiders in the hunt to the spinnerets ( Pardosa ) or taken on the abdomen (water hunters, Pirata ) in order to defend it against enemies. The egg cocoon is vigorously defended. Taking the female cocoon away, even the cocoon -like objects, such as paper balls or small snail shells are carried around.

The female makes the spiderlings slip Help, in which she bites down the cocoon. The juveniles climb immediately on her back. While up to a hundred small wolf spiders stick to the hair of the mother, often sit in several layers one above the other and feed off their yolk, the mother wanders, presumably to find the best possible micro-climatic conditions and good hiding places. To suspend itself not too great danger, they waived during this eight -day period on the hunt.

A female wolf spiders can even " foist " a alien cocoon, around which they will take care of as well. The hatching juveniles then climb to the stepmother and can carry around.

Genera and species

In Europe, domestic genera and species are for example:

  • Hogna Deserta tarantula (H. ingens ) ( Blackwall, 1857) ( ex. Geolycosa ingens )
  • H. radiata
  • A. accentuata ( ex. Tarentula accentuata )
  • A. cuneata
  • A. fabrilis
  • A. trabalis
  • Riverbank wolf spider (A. cinerea)
  • A. perita ( Latreille, 1799)
  • L. carolinensis
  • Apulian tarantula (L. tarentula )
  • Spanish tarantula (L. fasciiventris )
  • South Russian tarantula (L. singoriensis )
  • Garden wolf spider ( P. hortensis )
  • P. lugubris
  • P. palustris
  • P. monticola
  • P. piraticus
  • T. hispanica
  • T. ochracea
  • T. robusta
  • T. ruricola
  • T. spinipalpis
  • T. terricola
  • A. albimana ( Walckenaer, 1805)
  • X. miniata (C. L. Koch, 1834)
  • X. nemoralis (West Ring, 1861)
Entelegynae Courtship display Pirata (genus) Pupa#Cocoon John Blackwall Carl Ludwig Koch
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