Wolf-spider
Guides
Sosippus mimus
funnel-web wolf spider
Sosippus mimus is a web-building wolf spider in the family Lycosidae. Unlike most wolf spiders, which are nomadic hunters, species in the genus Sosippus construct sheet-like webs with funnel-shaped retreats. This species is found in the United States and shares the distinctive eye arrangement typical of lycosids: two large posterior median eyes with four smaller eyes below and two lateral eyes flanking them.
Sosippus placidus
Lake Placid Funnel Wolf Spider
Sosippus placidus is a web-building wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, endemic to the United States. Unlike most wolf spiders, which are nomadic hunters, this species constructs thick sheet-like webs with funnel-like retreats. It is described as a habitat specialist compared to its widespread congener Sosippus floridanus. The species is known from relatively few observations (31 records on iNaturalist as of source date), suggesting restricted distribution or specific habitat requirements.
Sosippus texanus
Sosippus texanus is a species of funnel-web wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, distinguished from typical wolf spiders by its web-building behavior. Unlike the nomadic hunting behavior of most lycosids, this species constructs sheet-like webs with funnel-shaped retreats. It is one of six Sosippus species occurring in the United States and has been documented as a host for the mantisfly Mantispa sayi.
Tigrosa aspersa
Woodland Giant Wolf Spider
Tigrosa aspersa is a large wolf spider reaching up to 25 mm in body length, inhabiting the eastern United States. Previously classified as Hogna aspersa, it was moved to the genus Tigrosa in 2012. The species is notably larger than its close relative Tigrosa helluo.
Tigrosa georgicola
Georgia Wolf Spider
Tigrosa georgicola is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae. It is endemic to the Southeastern United States, with the type specimen collected in Burke County, Georgia. It inhabits deciduous woodland forest floors.
Tigrosa grandis
Tigrosa grandis is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, endemic to the United States. The species was originally described by Nathan Banks in 1894. It occurs across a broad central swath of the country, from the northern plains south to Texas. As a member of the wolf spider family, it is an active ground-dwelling hunter that does not build webs to capture prey.
Tigrosa helluo
Wetland Giant Wolf Spider
Tigrosa helluo is a medium-sized wolf spider (Lycosidae) native to North America, formerly classified as Hogna helluo. Adults average approximately 17 mm in body length, with females larger than males. The species is distinguished by a brown carapace with a prominent yellow stripe extending from the anterior eyes down the cephalothorax, and black spots on the underside of the abdomen. It inhabits diverse environments including woods, marshes, fields, and riparian areas, with a preference for wetter habitats. The spider is nocturnal, solitary, and an active hunter that does not build webs for prey capture.
Trabeops aurantiacus
Trabeops aurantiacus is a wolf spider (family Lycosidae) and the sole species in the genus Trabeops. First described by Emerton in 1885 and later placed in its own genus by Roewer in 1959, this spider occurs in the United States and Canada. It represents a monotypic genus within the diverse wolf spider family.
Trebacosa marxi
Marx pirate spider
Trebacosa marxi is a wolf spider in the family Lycosidae, described by Stone in 1890. The species occurs in North America, with confirmed records from the United States and Canada. As a member of the genus Trebacosa, it belongs to a group of medium-sized wolf spiders. Limited detailed information is available regarding its specific biology and ecology.
Trochosa
Trochosa is a large genus of wolf spiders (Lycosidae) with worldwide distribution. These medium-sized, ground-dwelling spiders are cursorial hunters that do not construct webs to capture prey. The genus is particularly well-documented in Europe and North America, though it remains taxonomically unrevised in Africa. As of October 2025, the genus contains 93 species.
Trochosa abdita
Trochosa abdita is a wolf spider (family Lycosidae) described by Gertsch in 1934. It belongs to the genus Trochosa, a group of ground-dwelling hunting spiders characterized by their distinctive eye arrangement. The species is known only from the United States, though specific details about its ecology and behavior remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Trochosa terricola
ground wolf spider
A medium-sized wolf spider (Lycosidae) widespread across Europe and extending into Asia and North America. Adults range from 7–14 mm, with females larger than males. The species occupies diverse terrestrial habitats including grassland, heathland, and woodland, showing particular affinity for drier conditions. It is primarily nocturnal and has been documented as prey for pompilid spider wasps.
Varacosa
Varacosa is a genus of wolf spiders (family Lycosidae) endemic to North America. First described in 1942 by Chamberlin & Ivie, the genus currently contains six recognized species. These spiders are ground-dwelling hunters that serve as important prey for spider wasps in the family Pompilidae, including species such as Ageniella conflicta and Priocnemis minorata.
Varacosa avara
Varacosa avara is a wolf spider (family Lycosidae) distributed across the United States and Canada. It has been documented as prey for at least two species of spider wasps in the family Pompilidae: Ageniella conflicta and Priocnemis minorata. The species is one of several wolf spiders in the genus Varacosa, which are ground-dwelling hunters. Beyond its recorded role as host for parasitoid wasps, specific details of its biology remain sparse.
Varacosa parthenus
Varacosa parthenus is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae. It is endemic to the Southeastern United States. The species was described by Chamberlin in 1925. Like other wolf spiders, it is a ground-dwelling, active hunter that does not build webs to capture prey.