Rabidosa punctulata

(Hentz, 1844)

Dotted Wolf Spider

Rabidosa punctulata is a ground-dwelling wolf distributed across the eastern and central United States. Mature females average 15.2 mm in body length, males 12.8 mm. The exhibits distinctive alternative male mating tactics: complex multimodal with substrate-borne vibrations and visual leg waves toward unmated females, versus direct coercive mounting with grappling toward already-mated females. Females carry sacs attached to their and provide extended maternal care, with spiderlings riding on the mother's for approximately three weeks after .

Rabidosa punctulata by no rights reserved, uploaded by Lyn Roueche. Used under a CC0 license.

Rabidosa punctulata by (c) Bill Keim, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Rabidosa punctulata: /ræbɪˈdoʊsə pʌŋkˈtjuːləˌtæ/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Light large wolf with stripes on the and bearing light spots with a dark middle stripe. Underside of abdomen has diagnostic pattern of black spots or blotches. Mature females lack the pale spots inside the margin of the dark chocolate stripe down the abdomen that characterize Rabidosa rabida. Males mature earlier than females, with males appearing in early September and females between June and October.

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Habitat

Areas of weeds and tall grasses. Found in open agricultural fields, wooded edges, and grassland . In eastern coastal areas, observed at edges of open fields in otherwise wooded regions.

Distribution

Eastern and central United States: Massachusetts west to Kansas, south to Texas and northern Florida. Range includes southern Michigan, eastern Oklahoma, and extends to southeast Kansas.

Seasonality

active primarily June through October. Mature females occur between June and October; mature males appear in early September with evidence of earlier maturation. Spiderlings overwinter in protected places after emerging in late autumn.

Diet

Preys on variety of including small . Has been observed to scavenge dead insects. hunter that employs ambush and pursuit strategies.

Life Cycle

Females mature 13-15 days post-maturation. Mated females require three or more hours to create sac attached to , permitting continued nomadic movement. Females carry egg sacs for approximately one month. Spiderlings emerge and atop female's , latching onto knob-tipped hairs where they ride until next roughly three weeks later. Spiderlings then disperse and overwinter in protected places.

Behavior

hunter that waits in ambush or runs down . Prey seized with legs aided by sticky brushes of hairs; may loosely wrap prey in to secure from falling when resting on vegetation. Males follow -impregnated draglines of females. Males express two alternative mating strategies: (1) complex multimodal courtship with leg-waving and producing rhythmic vibrations, mounting only after female receptivity; (2) direct mount tactic involving grappling and flipping unreceptive female onto back to limit . Tactic expression depends on female mating status and male condition, with larger males in better condition more likely to adopt direct mount tactics. Females assess male condition and may cannibalize poor condition males. Once mated, females reduce receptivity and increase aggression toward courting males. Has been observed climbing vegetation to heights of three feet, possibly as avoidance in response to searching .

Ecological Role

in grassland and edge . Serves as for parasitic Climaciella brunnea, whose board female and enter sacs to feed on spider eggs. for in , including Anoplius aethiops and A. cleora.

Similar Taxa

Rabidosa rabidaLarger size; has pale spots inside margin of dark chocolate stripe down , which R. punctulata lacks; more common and widespread
Rabidosa santritaOverlapping range; of Anoplius aethiops; requires close examination for separation
Hogna speciesSimilar large wolf habitus; some overlap in range and serve as for same

More Details

Taxonomic History

Formerly placed in Lycosa as Lycosa punctulata; transferred to Rabidosa following determination that Lycosa is an Old World genus with no North representatives.

Mating System Complexity

Female multiple mating introduces potential for sperm competition. Already-mated females remated only 34% of time versus 92% for unmated females. Males paired with mated females showed longer courtship latencies, more time courting, and more courtship bouts.

Research Significance

has become model organism for studying alternative mating tactics, multimodal communication, and conditional strategy expression in .