If you’ve ever seen a large, fast-moving spider scurrying across your basement floor or darting through your garage, you might have met a wolf spider. These spiders are common in Alabama and are part of a larger group of ground-dwelling arachnids. They may look intimidating, but they’re not out to get you, and they don’t spin webs to catch prey like other spider species. Instead, they rely on speed and surprise.
Still, their presence indoors is rarely welcome.
Here’s what you need to know about identifying them, spotting signs of an infestation, and controlling them.
Key Takeaways
- Wolf spiders are large and fast with long legs, sharp eyesight, and light brown markings that help camouflage.
- These spiders build shallow burrows, carry egg sacs, and sometimes walk around with spiderlings clinging to their backs.
- Common signs include finding spiders in basements, spotting burrows in the yard, or egg sacs near corners.
- The best protection is sealing entry points, removing clutter, trimming your yard, and hiring a professional pest control service.
What Do Wolf Spiders Look Like?
Think you’ve spotted a wolf spider? There are a few ways to tell. These features can help you know for sure:
Body Size and Long Legs
Wolf spiders are among the large spiders you’ll see around Alabama homes. They typically range from ½ inch to over 2 inches in body length, and their long legs make them appear even larger.
These legs aren’t just for show. They help catch prey quickly by running them down instead of waiting in a web.
Coloration and Patterns
Wolf spiders come in earthy tones that blend into Alabama’s pine straw, mulch, and wooded areas. Their coloration is typically a mix of light brown, gray, and black, with distinctive stripes or mottled markings that help them blend in and stay hidden.
It helps them thrive in grassy areas, around foundations, and under porches.
Hairy Bodies and Spinnerets
Unlike orbweavers or black widow spiders, wolf spiders don’t use webs to trap insects.
Their spinnerets are mainly used to produce silk for lining their burrows or creating egg sacs. Their bodies are hairy, and this texture, combined with their size, often causes them to be mistaken for more dangerous species, such as the brown recluse spider.
Eye Arrangement and Vision
These spiders have excellent vision for an arachnid.
Their eyes are arranged in three rows, four small ones on the bottom, two large ones in the middle, and two more on top. This setup provides them with sharp eyesight, which enables them to hunt insects at night.
You might even catch their eyes shining back at you with a flashlight.
Female Wolf Spider and Spiderlings
One of the most recognizable features of this spider species is the behavior of the female wolf spider. She carries her egg sacs attached to her spinnerets and, once they hatch, the spiderlings climb onto her back.
It’s not unusual in Alabama to spot one carrying a cluster of young on her back in basements, garages, or outside around your home’s foundation.
Signs of a Wolf Spider Infestation
You won’t always catch a wolf spider in the act. But if they’ve made it inside, they’ll leave behind a few clues. Keep an eye out for these signs around your home:
Spotting Them in Basements or Garages
Basements and garages are prime hiding places for wolf spiders. These areas are quiet, dark, and full of crevices where spiders can hide during the day.
You’re more likely to spot them when you disrupt their hiding place, such as moving storage bins or sweeping behind tools.
Discovering Burrows in Grassy Areas
Wolf spiders don’t live in webs. They build burrows.
You’ll find these shallow tunnels in mulch beds, grassy areas, or at the base of your home near cracks in the foundation. Sometimes, the burrow entrance is lined with silk, and in some cases, you might see the spider itself waiting just inside.
Finding Egg Sacs or Spiderlings
If you notice loose egg sacs or tiny spiderlings tucked away near baseboards or window wells, it could be a sign that a female wolf spider has made your home her nesting spot.
These sacs aren’t suspended in webs like those of other spiders. They’re hidden in corners or under debris.
How to Handle a Wolf Spider Infestation
Seeing one wolf spider now and then might not mean much. But when they start turning up around your home, it’s time to take steps.
Here’s what you can do to keep them out for good:
Seal Cracks and Crevices
The best long-term strategy for spider control is prevention.
Start by sealing cracks around doors, windows, vents, and the foundation. These crevices are common entry points, especially at ground level, where wolf spiders are often found hunting.
This is also helpful for keeping out other pests that spiders feed on, such as flying insects and small wasps.
Clean Out Clutter in Garages and Basements
Garages and basements collect the kinds of hiding spots spiders love—boxes, firewood, old furniture. Remove clutter and store items off the floor.
By eliminating these shelters, you reduce the likelihood of attracting wolf spiders and other common house spiders.
Maintain Your Yard to Limit Insect Populations
Wolf spiders are drawn to places where they can hunt. A yard full of insects is essentially an open buffet. By keeping your lawn trimmed, clearing brush, and not over-mulching around the home, you’re also reducing the food supply for these arachnids.
This is a crucial step for spider control, especially during the warmer months when insect populations surge.
Call a Pest Control Professional
If you’ve seen more than one wolf spider indoors or noticed burrows in multiple areas around your property, it may be time to call a professional.
At Magic City Pest Control, we offer treatment plans that not only target wolf spiders but also help manage other species, including the grass spider, jumping spider, green lynx spider, and even venomous spiders such as the brown recluse and black widow.
We’ll inspect your property, identify the source, and apply targeted treatments with re-treat guarantees included.
Our ongoing plans offer reliable spider control backed by a re-treat guarantee, because no one wants to share a house with a wolf spider.
Let’s make your home less welcoming to eight-legged visitors.
Reach out now, and we’ll take care of the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are wolf spiders dangerous to humans?
Wolf spiders can be intimidating, but their bites are rare and generally not dangerous to most people. They usually avoid humans and only bite if threatened.
Where do wolf spiders hide in homes?
Wolf spiders often hide in basements, garages, and crawl spaces. They like dark, quiet areas where they won’t be disturbed.
How can I prevent wolf spiders from entering my house?
Seal cracks around doors and windows, reduce clutter, and keep your yard trimmed to make your home less inviting to wolf spiders.
