Wolf Spider

Name: Wolf Spider

Scientific name: Pardosa spp

Category: Minibeasts

Nature Stars: 40

What are nature stars?

About: A medium-sized spider, about 7mm long. Variously patterned dark grey, brown and black, and quite hairy. Wolf spiders hunt on the ground. The female carries her round egg sac underneath the back end of her body (attached to the 'spinnerets', the organs which produce silk) and will carry the young on her back for a few days after they hatch. Often seen sunbathing or running across the ground.

How to identify: There are several species of Pardosa wolf spider which are very difficult to tell apart

Where: Widespread

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 90
• Agility: 90
• Rarity: 40
• Cute factor: 10
• Traveller: 40

Fantastic fact: Wolf spider young disperse by floating away on the wind, using silk 'parachutes'.

Photograph credit: Margaret Holland