Geolycosa pikei facts for kids

Geolycosa pikei is a type of wolf spider found in the United States. These spiders are amazing at hiding! They can blend right into the sand. They also dig burrows in the sand to live in. A cool fact about them is that they can heal their wounds very quickly.

About the Sand Spider

This spider is usually sandy gray to brown. It has black markings on its body. Female Geolycosa pikei spiders are about 18 to 22 millimeters long. That's roughly the size of a large paperclip! Males are a bit smaller, around 14 millimeters long.

Because of its color, it's very hard to see this spider on the sand. You might not notice it until it starts to move!

Hunting and Hiding

The Geolycosa pikei spider is a hunter. It looks for food when the sun starts to set, at dusk. It runs very quickly over the sand to catch insects.

During the day, this spider usually stays hidden in its hole. It only comes out if prey gets too close to its home.

Spider Homes

The spider's home is a hole in the sand. This hole can be as wide as a knitting needle. It can go deep into the sand, from a few inches to about 2 feet!

To stop its hole from falling apart, the spider spins a silky lining. This lining covers the top 2 to 3 inches of the hole. The spider usually builds its home at night. It throws out small bits of sand as it digs.

These holes are often built in sand near the seashore. But sometimes, they are found further inland too. Even young spiders are good at building these homes, just like the adults.

How Spiders Heal

Scientists have studied how these spiders heal. A study from 1981 looked at what happens when a Geolycosa pikei spider gets a wound.

When a spider's body is hurt, it quickly seals the wound. It uses a special fluid called hemolymph. This fluid forms a clot, like when you get a cut and your blood clots.

Over time, this clot helps to seal the hole in the spider's outer shell. The inside part of the clot changes into a strong, fibrous mass. After several changes, the spider's body tissue is fully repaired. This shows how amazing their healing abilities are!