Family Lycosidae (Wolf Spiders)狼蛛科

Last Updated on Sunday, 21 May, 2023 07:26:26 PM

The Five Arachnid families > Spiders of Borneo > Non-Web Spiders > Family Lycosidae (Wolf Spiders)狼蛛科

Family Lycosidae
(Wolf Spiders)
狼蛛科

The following seven genus in Family Lycosidae are found in Borneo:

Genus arctosa
Genus hippasa
Genus hygrolycosa
Genus pardosa
Genus tricca
Genus trochosa
Genus NEW

Wolf spiders hunt at night. Usually brown and black, they may have longitudinal stripes. Wolf spiders are large and often seen under lights. They can be seen at night when their eyes reflect light from a flashlight, headlamp or car headlight.

Pond Wolf Spider Pardosa pseudoannulata is one of the most conspicuous wolf spiders. This spider form webbing only to provide daytime shelter, not to capture prey. Many wolf spider females carry their egg masses below their abdomens until after the eggs hatch. Young spiderlings cling to the mother’s abdomen for a short time after hatching.

Wolf spiders frequently enter homes and backyards but pose no danger to people. The family name are derived from the Greek word for wolf because to the spiders' hunting method of ambushing and running down its prey.
The family Lycosidae is a large family with a worldwide distribution represented by 96 genera and more than 3000 species. 28 genera and 159 species are known from Southern Africa. Most lycosids are free-running ground hunters with only a few living in burrows with trapdoors or living in a funnel-web.

Diagnostic characters
Colours ranging from dull yellowish brown to grey to almost black with broad bands over cephalothorax, abdomen usually with patterns; carapace: hairy, longer than wide and narrower and higher in cephalic region, fovea longitudinal. eyes: 8 in 3 rows (4:2:2), all dark coloured, of unequal size: anterior row with four small eyes, second row with two large eyes and third row with two eyes of intermediate size, situated on anterolateral surface of carapace, with a slightly backward glance; abdomen: oval, covered with dense setae; legs: usually strong, of moderate length with 3 claws.

Behaviour
Many species of wolf spiders hunt during the day, but some are nocturnal. When at rest they usually are found under stones or debris on the ground. They have good vision and their sense of touch is highly developed. Contrary to common belief, wolf spiders do not always run down their prey. Recent studies indicate that they tend towards a "sit-and-wait" strategy. Prey is grabbed with the chelicerae and a basket is formed around the prey with the legs before it is bitten by the chelicerae. The lycosid female carries her round or oval, often cream-coloured, egg cocoon attached to the spinnerets. The young spiderlings climb onto the mother's back after emerging from the egg cocoon and are carried about until their second moult. Some species of Pardosa, Pirata, and Wadicosa are semi-aquatic and are frequently found on the banks or stony beds of rivers and ponds. They are able to run with great agility on the surface of the water.