Sosippus texanus

Sosippus texanus can be distinguished from the similar-appearing funnel-web weavers of family Agelenidae by its eye arrangement: the two posterior median eyes are large and forward-facing, underscored by a row of four much smaller eyes, with two additional posterior lateral eyes flanking the others. Agelenids possess a more compact eye arrangement with eyes of relatively equal size. From other Sosippus species, identification requires examination of detailed morphological characters.

Found in the southern United States. Associated with web construction on vegetation such as cacti, agave, and palmetto, or in rock crevices.

United States; specifically recorded from Texas and the southern U.S.

Females tether egg sacs to their spinnerets until spiderlings hatch. Spiderlings ride on the mother's back until their next molt, then may share her web for extended periods.

Constructs sheet-like webs with funnel-shaped retreats, unlike the nomadic hunting behavior typical of most wolf spiders. Exhibits maternal care including extended cohabitation of offspring in the maternal web.

Recorded host for the mantisfly Mantispa sayi; the mantisfly larva consumes the spider's eggs.

• Sosippus californicusAlso builds funnel-webs but ranges from southern California to Costa Rica
• Sosippus floridanusEastern species with documented subsocial maternal feeding behavior
• Agelenidae (funnel-web weavers)Construct nearly identical web architecture but differ in eye arrangement and other morphological features

• spider
• wolf spider
• web-building
• Lycosidae
• funnel-web
• maternal care
• parasitism
• Mantispa sayi
• southern United States
• Texas

• BugGuide
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• Catalogue of Life
• Bembicid Holdings | Entomology Research Museum
• California Has No State Bee--Yet! | Bug Squad
• Bug Eric: Spider Sunday: Funnel-web Wolf Spiders
• Tracking Tetraopes texanus with Terry | Beetles In The Bush
• The Texas Prick | Beetles In The Bush
• Bug Eric: More Insects From Sunflowers