Wolf Spiders in Alabama

Wolf spiders are technically part of the Lycosidae family and they are one of the fastest, most efficient hunters around. Wolf spiders have a reputation for being quick movers and many times, you can see them scurrying around your porch, garage floor, or even in your basement.

These arachnids are larger than most spiders. But unlike most spiders, they’re not known for making webs to hunt their prey. Instead, these spiders are known for stalking their prey or pouncing on them.

Key Characteristics of Wolf Spiders

Wolf spiders have some features that set them apart from other spiders in Alabama. If you are trying to identify a wolf spider, here’s what to look for:

• Color – Wolf spiders are typically gray, brown, or dark tan in color and are usually speckled with darker marks to help them camouflage.
• Size – Wolf spiders are larger than most spiders, with adult wolf spiders ranging in size from about ½ inch in length to over 2 inches in length.
• Number of eyes – Wolf spiders have eight eyes that are grouped into three rows. Two large eyes make up the middle row and these eyes typically reflect light.
• Hairy legs – Their legs and body are covered in fine hairs which give them a rugged appearance.

With this key information, you can help yourself distinguish these common wolf spiders from other spiders that are found in Alabama and be able to spot the real deal. This way, you can steer clear of spiders like the brown recluse.

If you’ve seen wolf spiders around your home, you may be wondering where do wolf spiders like to hide? Wolf spiders like areas that are humid and in Alabama, there are plenty of those. Wolf spiders can be found:

• In leaf litter, mulch beds, and garden debris
• Under rocks, logs, and firewood piles
• In basements, crawl spaces, and attics
• In garage corners, storage sheds, and other outdoor structures

Alabama provides an ideal warm, moist habitat for wolf spiders to make their homes both indoors and outdoors during the warmer months.

Alabama has its fair share of brown wolf spiders and are one of the most common in the area. The brown wolf spider is often confused with a brown recluse spider but they are not as dangerous or poisonous.

If you’re unsure of whether or not a brown wolf spider is a spider in Alabama or a brown recluse, you’re not alone. Here’s how you can tell the difference.

• Brown Recluse – The most common way to tell if a spider is a brown recluse is to look for the violin-shaped marking on its back. Brown recluse spiders have six eyes instead of eight and they do have medically significant venom.
• Brown Wolf Spider – Brown wolf spiders don’t have the violin-shaped mark on their back and have eight eyes in a distinct pattern. They are not considered to be medically dangerous.

Learning these differences between these spiders can help homeowners to alleviate their concerns and determine the right pest control approach.

Wolf spiders are not as dangerous or poisonous as the common brown recluse. Wolf spiders will bite if they feel threatened or feel they are trapped, but they will do so sparingly. If a wolf spider bites a person, they may experience:

• Mild pain
• Swelling
• Itching
• Redness

Wolf spider bites are not dangerous to most people. If you have an allergy to insect bites, you should still contact a medical professional if you experience a reaction. A brown recluse spider can be a very dangerous spider, but the brown wolf spider is not as dangerous.

Discovering wolf spiders in your home is never a pleasant sight but there are ways to prevent them from entering your house or yard in the first place. There are some home remedies you can use to repel them like sealing your home and also reducing their prey. Here are some helpful tips on preventing wolf spiders from entering your home in Alabama:

• Seal up all visible cracks and crevices around your windows, doors, and home foundation.
• Declutter your basement and garage and other storage areas to reduce their hiding spots.
• Reduce your outdoor lighting to keep the flying insects down, which is their prey.
• Cut back tall grass and remove leaf litter and woodpiles to discourage them outdoors.
• Apply natural repellents like peppermint oil or vinegar sprays on your baseboards.

If you use these methods to help repel wolf spiders from your property, you should see a noticeable difference in their numbers. By starving them of food and denying them access, you can keep them outdoors where they belong.

If you continue to have problems with wolf spiders in Alabama, then professional pest control may be your next best option. Steel City Pest will provide you with:

• Inspection and identification of where the spiders are concentrated around your home
• Environmentally friendly treatments to eliminate the wolf spiders around your property safely.
• Preventative methods to help keep them from coming back.

Our professional pest control company is experienced and educated on Alabama’s climate and specific pests. We take pride in offering the right pest control services to fit the specific pest and problem you have.

Wolf spiders are most active in Alabama in late spring through early fall. During this season, here’s what you can expect to see:

• Wolf spiders will be hunting more often.
• Female wolf spiders carry egg sacs on their spinnerets.
• Spiderlings can ride on their mother’s back after they hatch until they mature and are ready to be on their own.

Mother wolf spiders take good care of their young, which is one of the unique arachnids in Alabama. If you take the time to learn about their seasonal activity, you can prepare for when you may see more of them.

Wolf spiders are not considered poisonous to people. They will bite, but only if they feel threatened.

Wolf spiders can get to be over 2 inches in body length, not including their legs.

If you see a wolf spider in your home, it’s not necessary to kill it because these spiders actually help keep the population of other insects down. But if you don’t like them indoors, professional pest control can help you get rid of them.

Wolf spiders will bite people, but usually, only when they feel threatened or have no other way out. Their bites are not considered dangerous to humans, and most people only experience mild pain and swelling.

The first time you see a wolf spider crawling across your floor or wall, you’re likely to startle and jump back. But if you have the facts, you can prepare yourself to look at them in a whole new way. Wolf spiders are a very important part of Alabama’s ecosystem because they help control other pests.

But if you’d rather keep them out of your home and not have to see them at all, Steel City Pest can help. We offer professional pest control services with options for you and your property. We can help you deal with the common wolf spiders in Alabama you’re probably seeing or if you’re worried about the brown wolf spider, we can help there too.

Contact Steel City Pest today and set up your free consultation to help keep wolf spiders out of your home and back outside where they belong.