Rabid wolf spider facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rabid wolf spider |
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The Rabidosa rabida, also known as the rabid wolf spider, is a type of spider. It belongs to the wolf spider family, called Lycosidae. These spiders are originally from North America. In the United States, you can find them from Maine all the way down to Florida and west to Texas.
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What They Look Like
The rabid wolf spider has a body part called the cephalothorax (which is like its head and chest joined together). This part has two dark stripes. Its abdomen (the back part of its body) has one stripe of the same color. The rest of the spider's body is usually yellow.
Female rabid wolf spiders are bigger than males. Females can be about an inch long. Males are usually half that size. These spiders have eight eyes. Four eyes are on top, and four are below, looking a bit like a moustache.
Where They Live and How They Hunt
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These spiders like places like cotton fields and wooded areas. They often live in holes or among different kinds of trash. Sometimes, you might find them near ponds or in deep burrows that are covered by leaves or other things.
Rabid wolf spiders do not build webs to catch their food. Instead, they use their silk to wrap up prey after they catch it. They also use silk to protect their young. They hunt at night. They might wait quietly to ambush their prey, or they might chase it down. Sometimes, they even camouflage themselves to look like tree bark or leaves to surprise their prey.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
When it's time to breed, the male rabid wolf spider performs a special "dance" for the female. He also makes a noise with his legs. If the mating is successful, the female will start to lay her eggs. She then builds an eggsack out of silk. She carries this eggsack with her to keep her babies safe.
Once the spiderlings (baby spiders) hatch, they climb onto their mother's back. They stay there until they are big enough to live on their own.
Are They Dangerous?
Rabid wolf spiders might bite if they feel threatened or scared. However, their bite is not dangerous to humans. It's usually just a small, harmless bite.
Their Home Range
The rabid wolf spider is found in North America. In the United States, its home stretches across the eastern part of the country. You can find them from Maine in the north, down to Florida in the south, and west to Texas.
Images for kids
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Female rabid wolf spider
