Texas Wolf Spiders
A spider that is seen often in Texas is the wolf spider, or Rabidosa Rabida, also known as the wandering spider. These spiders can be seen crawling in open areas within homes. Wolf spiders can also be found dwelling in cotton fields, wooded areas and the spaces beneath rocks, shrubs, debris and rubble.
These wolf spiders are dark brown in color, with stripes covering most of their bodies. The abdomen of the wolf spider may be patterned with spots, swaths and fading colors. Their legs can vary in color, with front legs appearing darker than the rest. Male wolf spiders are small in size, measuring up to 13 millimeters in length, while females can grow to be as large as 20 millimeters long.
The wolf spider males spin silken balls within which they deposit sperm. Female specimens attach these silken masses to themselves, leading to insemination. Wolf spiders participate in a series of affectionate mating displays prior to fertilization. Initially white, egg sacs are dark brown at maturity. Newly hatched spiders remain with the female until they are about a month old. At that time they disperse to hunt for themselves.