Schizocosa

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Lycosidae
Genus: Schizocosa

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Schizocosa: /ˌskɪzoʊˈkoʊsə/

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

Images

Schizocosa mccooki 388322598 by August Frisk. Used under a CC0 license.

Schizocosa avida by Avery Wilson. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Brush Legged Wolfspider (Schizocosa ocreata) - 05.08.23 by WanderingMogwai. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Two brush-legged split wolf spiders (Schizocosa ocreata), Prince William County, Virginia, US, April 2019 by Val (valehu). Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Two brush-legged split wolf spiders (Schizocosa ocreata), Prince William County, Virginia, US, April 2019 (cropped) by Val (valehu). Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Common Spiders U.S. 184-5 by James Henry Emerton (1847 – 1931). Used under a Public domain license.

Summary

Schizocosa is a genus of wolf spiders belonging to the family Lycosidae, comprising around 60 species distributed across diverse habitats in North and South America, Africa, and East and Southeast Asia. The genus was described by Chamberlin in 1904 and is characterized by unique morphological features such as the split T formation in the epigynum, particularly observable in females.

Physical Characteristics

Males of some Schizocosa species have a conspicuous brush of black hairs on tibia I.

Identification Tips

Look for the 'split T formation' in the epigynum to identify Schizocosa species.

Habitat

Schizocosa species inhabit a variety of environments across North and South America, including grasslands and forests.

Distribution

Approximately 27 species in North America, primarily north of Mexico.

Diet

As wolf spiders, they primarily feed on insects and other small arthropods.

Ecosystem Role

Predators of various insects, helping to control pest populations.