Lycosidae
Guides
Allocosa funerea
Allocosa funerea is a small wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, originally described by Hentz in 1844 under the name Lycosa funerea. The species exhibits notable sexual dimorphism in size, with females being slightly larger than males. It is primarily distributed across the eastern and central United States.
Allocosa sublata
Allocosa sublata is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, first described by Montgomery in 1902. It is a ground-dwelling spider known from the United States. Very few observations exist in public databases, with only five records on iNaturalist as of the latest data. The genus Allocosa contains multiple North American species, many of which occupy similar terrestrial habitats.
Alopecosa
Fox Spiders
Alopecosa is a genus of wolf spiders (Lycosidae) comprising approximately 160 species. These ground-dwelling spiders are predominantly Eurasian in distribution, with some species extending into North Africa and North America. Most species reach up to 2 cm in body length. Females construct burrows for egg deposition and guard their egg sacs until hatching. The genus has been subject to taxonomic revision, with species historically grouped into sibling species complexes based on morphology, though courtship behavior and molecular techniques have proven more reliable for species delimitation.
Alopecosa aculeata
Spinyrib Wolf Spider
Alopecosa aculeata is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, found across a broad geographic range spanning North America, Europe, and Asia. Taxonomic study has revealed that specimens historically identified as this species actually represent two distinct species, with A. aculeata and A. taeniata now recognized as separate based on morphological, behavioral, and ecological differences. The species exhibits distinct courtship behavior and habitat preferences that differ from its close relatives.
Alopecosa exasperans
Alopecosa exasperans is a wolf spider in the family Lycosidae. It forms part of the albostriata species group alongside A. albostriata and A. mutabilis, a group distributed across Siberia and the northern Nearctic. The species has been recorded in Canada and Greenland. Taxonomic research suggests this species group may eventually be transferred to the genus Mustelicosa based on male palp morphology.
Alopecosa hirtipes
Alopecosa hirtipes is an Arctic wolf spider (family Lycosidae) distributed across northern North America and Eurasia. The species has been studied for its reproductive biology, with research documenting correlations between female body size, mass, and clutch characteristics. As a ground-dwelling lycosid, it inhabits tundra and cold-adapted habitats where it exhibits typical wolf spider behaviors including maternal care of egg sacs.
Alopecosa pictilis
Painted Wolf Spider
Alopecosa pictilis is a wolf spider species in the family Lycosidae, first described by Emerton in 1885. It is one of approximately 150 species in the genus Alopecosa, a group of ground-dwelling hunting spiders distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. The species exhibits the typical wolf spider characteristics of active hunting behavior and maternal care of egg sacs. Records indicate it has been observed in at least 29 documented occurrences.
Arctosa alpigena
Hilltop Wolf Spider
Arctosa alpigena is a wolf spider in the family Lycosidae with a holarctic distribution spanning North America, Greenland, and Eurasia. It is one of numerous Arctosa species adapted to open, often sandy or gravelly habitats. Like other wolf spiders, it is an active ground-dwelling hunter rather than a web-builder. The species has been subject to reproductive biology studies examining spatial and temporal patterns of mating and offspring production.
Arctosa raptor
Raptor Wolf Spider
Arctosa raptor is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae. It has been documented across a broad geographic range spanning northern Eurasia and North America, with records from Russia (including Kamchatka), Nepal, the United States, and Canada. The species was first described by Polish arachnologist Władysław Kulczyński in 1885. Like other wolf spiders, it is an active hunter that does not construct webs to capture prey.
Arctosa virgo
Arctosa virgo is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, described by Chamberlin in 1925. It is known from the United States, with records from oak-hickory forests in southern Missouri. As a member of the genus Arctosa, it belongs to a group of cursorial wolf spiders adapted to ground-dwelling predation. Very little specific information has been published about this species beyond its original description and a few collection records.
Geolycosa
Burrowing Wolf Spiders
Geolycosa is a genus of burrowing wolf spiders (family Lycosidae) established by Montgomery in 1904. These spiders are characterized by their obligate burrowing lifestyle, constructing deep cylindrical burrows in sandy or loose soils. Some species build distinctive turrets around burrow openings using sticks and debris. The genus includes approximately 70 species distributed across North America, with some species extending into the Levant. Geolycosa species are medium to large spiders with morphological adaptations for digging, including enlarged chelicerae and stout anterior legs.
Geolycosa fatifera
Geolycosa fatifera is a burrowing wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, found in the United States. As a member of the genus Geolycosa, it spends the majority of its life in a deep burrow. The species was first described by Nicholas Marcellus Hentz in 1842. Like other Geolycosa species, it exhibits traits associated with fossorial (burrowing) existence, including stout front legs adapted for digging.
Geolycosa gosoga
Geolycosa gosoga is a species of burrowing wolf spider in the family Lycosidae. It is endemic to the United States, with records from the southwestern and south-central regions including New Mexico and surrounding areas. As a member of the genus Geolycosa, it constructs deep, silk-lined burrows in sandy soils and is primarily nocturnal.
Geolycosa hubbelli
Geolycosa hubbelli is a species of burrowing wolf spider in the family Lycosidae. It is found in the United States and belongs to a genus characterized by deep, silk-lined burrows. Members of this genus are typically associated with sandy or loose soil habitats where they construct vertical burrows with debris-reinforced turrets.
Geolycosa micanopy
Geolycosa micanopy is a burrowing wolf spider species in the family Lycosidae, described by Wallace in 1942. It is known from the United States. As a member of the genus Geolycosa, it constructs deep, silk-lined burrows in sandy substrates. A laboratory study has examined burrow establishment behavior in young individuals of this species in relation to microhabitat conditions and prey availability.
Geolycosa patellonigra
Geolycosa patellonigra is a burrowing wolf spider species in the family Lycosidae, described by Wallace in 1942. It is found in the United States, with records from Florida and potentially other southeastern states. As a member of the genus Geolycosa, it constructs deep silk-lined burrows in sandy soils and exhibits notable ballooning behavior—spiderling aerial dispersal via silk threads—at frequencies higher than typical for wolf spiders. The species shows geographical variation in its seasonal distribution patterns.
Geolycosa rafaelana
Rafaela Burrowing Wolf Spider
Geolycosa rafaelana is a burrowing wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, found in western desert and scrubland habitats of the United States. As a member of the genus Geolycosa, it constructs deep, silk-lined burrows in sandy soils and is primarily nocturnal. The species was described by Chamberlin in 1928 and appears to be associated with arid environments in the southwestern U.S.
Geolycosa riograndae
Geolycosa riograndae is a species of burrowing wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, first described by Wallace in 1942. It belongs to a genus characterized by deep, silk-lined burrows and fossorial habits. The species is known from the United States, with records primarily from the southwestern region including New Mexico. Like other Geolycosa species, it exhibits the elevated cephalothorax and stout digging appendages typical of burrowing wolf spiders.
Geolycosa turricola
turret spider, burrowing wolf spider
Geolycosa turricola is a burrowing wolf spider (family Lycosidae) native to the eastern United States, ranging as far west as Ohio. This species constructs deep, silk-lined burrows in sandy soils, often with a distinctive turret of silk and debris at the entrance. It exhibits an obligate burrowing lifestyle with a two-year life cycle and has been documented showing high frequencies of ballooning behavior—aerial dispersal via silk threads—despite occupying relatively stable sand dune habitats. Spiderlings display subsocial organization with prolonged mutual tolerance within broods, facilitated primarily by chemical communication.
Geolycosa xera
McCrone's burrowing wolf spider
Geolycosa xera, commonly known as McCrone's burrowing wolf spider, is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae. It is endemic to Florida in the United States, where it inhabits scrub habitats in several central Florida counties. The species was described by McCrone in 1963 and comprises two recognized subspecies with restricted distributions.
Hogna
wolf spiders
Hogna is a large genus of wolf spiders (Lycosidae) comprising more than 200 described species distributed across all continents except Antarctica. The genus is taxonomically problematic, having never been properly revised even in Europe, and lacks a reliable diagnostic framework. Species are generally large, ground-dwelling hunters that construct open silk-lined burrows rather than using trapdoors. Hogna carolinensis is among the largest wolf spiders in North America, with females reaching 35 mm body length. The genus exhibits notable ecological diversity, with parallel habitat specialization documented in island radiations such as the Galápagos and Madeira.
Hogna ammophila
Hogna ammophila is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae. It is a member of the genus Hogna, which includes large, ground-dwelling hunting spiders. The specific epithet "ammophila" (Greek for "sand-loving") suggests an association with sandy habitats, though detailed natural history information for this particular species is limited in available sources.
Hogna angusta
Hogna angusta is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, first described by Tullgren in 1901. The genus Hogna includes large, active hunting spiders commonly found in open habitats. As with other Hogna species, H. angusta likely exhibits the characteristic eye arrangement and nocturnal eye-shine typical of wolf spiders. Specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in available literature.
Hogna antelucana
Hogna antelucana is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae. It is a ground-dwelling, nocturnal hunter found in the United States. As a member of the genus Hogna, it is a relatively large wolf spider with well-developed eyes adapted for low-light conditions. The species was described by Montgomery in 1904.
Hogna coloradensis
Hogna coloradensis is a wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, first described by Nathan Banks in 1894. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Like other members of the genus Hogna, it is a ground-dwelling, cursorial hunter. Specific details regarding its ecology and behavior remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Hogna ericeticola
Rosemary Wolf Spider
Hogna ericeticola, known as the rosemary wolf spider, is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae. It was described by Howard K. Wallace in 1942. The species is endemic to Florida scrub habitats in Putnam County, Florida, United States. As a member of the genus Hogna, it is a large, active ground-dwelling spider.
Hogna frondicola
Forest Wolf Spider
Hogna frondicola is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, commonly known as the Forest Wolf Spider. It is found throughout the United States and Canada, with confirmed records from Alberta and British Columbia. The species is one of several Hogna species known to serve as hosts for the spider wasp Anoplius aethiops, which paralyzes and provisions its burrows with these spiders.
Hogna lenta
Field Wolf Spider
Hogna lenta is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, commonly known as the Field Wolf Spider. It is native to the southeastern United States, with particular abundance in Florida. This large, ground-dwelling spider constructs vertical burrows in sandy substrates and hunts using vibration detection. The species has been used in neuroanatomical research to study catecholaminergic neuron distribution in spider central nervous systems.
Hogna timuqua
Hogna timuqua is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, first described by Wallace in 1942. The species belongs to a genus of large, active hunting spiders commonly found in North American habitats. Like other Hogna species, it is presumed to be a ground-dwelling predator with well-developed eyes adapted for nocturnal activity. Specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented in published sources.
Melocosa fumosa
Melocosa fumosa is a wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, first described by James Henry Emerton in 1894. The species is documented from the United States and Canada. As a member of the genus Melocosa, it belongs to a group of wolf spiders characterized by burrowing behavior and specific eye arrangement patterns. The species has been recorded in iNaturalist with over 100 observations, indicating it is encountered with moderate frequency by naturalists.
Pardosa
Thin-legged Wolf Spiders
Pardosa is a large genus of wolf spiders comprising over 500 described species with worldwide distribution except Australia. These spiders are generally small to medium-sized (3–12 mm body length), characterized by long, thin legs with prominent perpendicular spines. They occupy diverse habitats including wetlands, woodlands, grasslands, and high-elevation environments. Many species exhibit sexual dimorphism in coloration, with mature males often displaying distinct patterns from females. Species identification requires microscopic examination of genitalia.
Pardosa albomaculata
Thin-legged wolf spider
Pardosa albomaculata is a species of thin-legged wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, originally described by Emerton in 1885. It was previously treated as a synonym of P. groenlandica but has been reestablished as a distinct species based on morphological differences in male palpal structures and female epigynes. It belongs to the glacialis/groenlandica species complex, a group of closely related Holarctic Pardosa species. The species is part of the most abundant genus of wolf spiders in North America.
Pardosa atlantica
Atlantic wolf spider, thin-legged wolf spider
Pardosa atlantica is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, described by Emerton in 1913. As a member of the genus Pardosa, commonly known as thin-legged wolf spiders, it belongs to one of the most abundant wolf spider genera in North America. The species is found in the United States, though specific details about its ecology and biology remain limited in available literature. Like other Pardosa species, it is likely a ground-dwelling, active hunter.
Pardosa atromedia
Pardosa atromedia is a species of thin-legged wolf spider in the family Lycosidae. It is found in the United States. As a member of the genus Pardosa, it shares the characteristic long leg spines and elevated cephalothorax typical of this diverse and abundant group of wolf spiders. The species was described by Banks in 1904.
Pardosa californica
Pardosa californica is a species of thin-legged wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, first described by Keyserling in 1887. It belongs to the genus Pardosa, which comprises small to medium-sized wolf spiders characterized by long spines on their legs that are nearly perpendicular to the leg axis. The species is found in the United States and Mexico. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with moist habitats near water sources, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited.
Pardosa concinna
Thin-legged Wolf Spider
Pardosa concinna is a species of thin-legged wolf spider in the family Lycosidae. Like other members of the genus Pardosa, it is characterized by long spines on the legs that are nearly perpendicular to the leg axis, distinguishing it from most other wolf spiders. The species is found in western North America, with records from Alberta and British Columbia in Canada, and parts of the United States. Species-level identification requires microscopic examination of genitalia.
Pardosa dorsuncata
Pardosa dorsuncata is a species of thin-legged wolf spider in the family Lycosidae. It was described by Lowrie and Dondale in 1981. The species is found in the United States and Canada, with records from Alberta and British Columbia in Canada. As a member of the genus Pardosa, it shares characteristics typical of this widespread group of small to medium-sized wolf spiders.
Pardosa fuscula
Pardosa fuscula is a small to medium-sized wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, distributed across the United States and Canada. As a member of the thin-legged wolf spider genus Pardosa, it exhibits characteristic long leg spines and elevated cephalothorax typical of the group. The species occupies diverse habitats including wetlands, woodlands, and open fields. Identification to species level requires microscopic examination of genitalia.
Pardosa groenlandica
Groenland Wolf Spider, Greenland Wolf Spider
Pardosa groenlandica is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, commonly known as the Groenland Wolf Spider or Greenland Wolf Spider. It is one of approximately 65 Pardosa species recognized in the United States and 75 species north of Mexico. The species has a notably broad distribution spanning arctic and subarctic regions across multiple continents.
Pardosa hyperborea
Pardosa hyperborea is a species of thin-legged wolf spider in the family Lycosidae. It has a transcontinental distribution spanning the Nearctic and Palearctic regions, occurring in northern North America, Greenland, and across northern Eurasia from Europe to Siberia. The species inhabits high-latitude and high-elevation environments, reflecting adaptations to cold climates. Like other members of the genus Pardosa, it exhibits characteristic long leg spines and elevated cephalothorax morphology.
Pardosa labradorensis
Labrador Thin-legged Wolf Spider
Pardosa labradorensis is a species of thin-legged wolf spider in the family Lycosidae. As a member of the genus Pardosa, it shares the characteristic long, perpendicular leg spines that distinguish this group from other wolf spiders. The species is found in northern North America, with records from the United States and Canada. Like other Pardosa species, it is likely associated with moist habitats, though specific ecological details for this species are limited.
Pardosa lowriei
Lowrie's Thin-legged Wolf Spider
Pardosa lowriei is a species of thin-legged wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, first described by Kronestedt in 1975. As a member of the genus Pardosa, it is characterized by long spines on the legs that are nearly perpendicular to the leg axis, distinguishing it from other wolf spider genera. The species is found in the United States and Canada. Like other Pardosa species, it is likely a ground-dwelling active hunter, though specific behavioral details for this species are not well documented.
Pardosa mackenziana
Mackenzie's Thin-legged Wolf Spider
Pardosa mackenziana is a species of thin-legged wolf spider in the family Lycosidae. It is found across the United States and Canada, with confirmed records from Alberta and British Columbia. Like other members of the genus Pardosa, it is a small to medium-sized ground-dwelling spider. A 2000 life history study in central Alberta documented its reproductive behavior, including females sunning their egg sacs to aid incubation.
Pardosa mercurialis
Pardosa mercurialis is a species of thin-legged wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, found in the United States. It belongs to the genus Pardosa, which comprises small to medium-sized wolf spiders characterized by long, perpendicular leg spines. Species-level identification requires microscopic examination of genitalia. Like other Pardosa species, it is likely ground-dwelling and associated with varied terrestrial habitats, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Pardosa metlakatla
thin-legged wolf spider
Pardosa metlakatla is a species of thin-legged wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, first described by Emerton in 1917. As a member of the genus Pardosa, it belongs to one of the most abundant and widespread wolf spider genera in North America. The species occurs in the United States and Canada, with confirmed records from Alberta and British Columbia. Like other Pardosa species, it is characterized by long, perpendicular leg spines and a preference for moist habitats near water.
Pardosa modica
Little Banded Wolf Spider
Pardosa modica is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, commonly known as the Little Banded Wolf Spider. It is one of approximately 65 Pardosa species recognized in the United States and 75 species north of Mexico. As a member of the 'thin-legged wolf spiders,' it is characterized by distinctive leg spines and is typically small to medium in size. The species is distributed across the United States and Canada, including records from Alberta and Manitoba.
Pardosa orophila
Pardosa orophila is a species of thin-legged wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, first described by Gertsch in 1933. The species is found in the United States and Mexico. Like other members of the genus Pardosa, it is a ground-dwelling, cursorial hunter. Specific details about its ecology and behavior remain poorly documented in published sources.
Pardosa steva
Pardosa steva is a species of thin-legged wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, described by Lowrie and Gertsch in 1955. Like other members of the genus Pardosa, it is a small to medium-sized, ground-dwelling spider. The species is known from western North America, with confirmed records from Alberta, Canada and Idaho, United States. As with most Pardosa species, identification to species level requires microscopic examination of genitalia.
Pardosa tesquorum
thin-legged wolf spider
Pardosa tesquorum is a small to medium-sized wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, belonging to the genus Pardosa, commonly known as thin-legged wolf spiders. The species has a broad distribution spanning the Palearctic and Nearctic regions, occurring across Russia, Mongolia, China, the United States, and Canada. Like other members of its genus, it is characterized by long, slender legs with distinctive perpendicular spines. Specific ecological details for this species are limited in published literature.
Pardosa tuoba
Pardosa tuoba is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, first described by Chamberlin in 1919. It belongs to the genus Pardosa, commonly known as thin-legged wolf spiders, which are among the most abundant wolf spiders in North America. The species is known from the United States, though specific details about its ecology and distribution remain limited in available sources. As with other Pardosa species, it is likely a ground-dwelling active hunter.