Rabid Wolf Spiders (Rabidosa rabida) of the family Lycosidae have weird defense mechanisms that include biting, using sheer speed, or dropping a leg as a twitching distraction to escape danger. Males also dance or create a series of sounds with their legs to attract a mate. You can find them in wooded areas and cotton fields in North America, camouflaging in leaves and dry debris. This is possible by their dark or mottled colored body that helps them blend well in their environment, hence can ambush prey or escape predators. The Rabid Wolf Spider builds no web but catches prey by weaving silk which they also use to protect the young.
Male and female Rabid Wolf Spiders vary in size. The female Rabid Wolf Spider has an overall legspan length between 2.48”-3.27” (63-83 mm), body length of .63”-.83” (16-21 mm), body width of .22”-.26” (5.7-6.7 mm), and body height of .17”-.22” (4.2-5.6 mm). The male Rabid Wolf Spider has an overall legspan length between 1.57”-1.97” (40-50 mm), body length of .39”-.51” (10-13 mm), body width of .14”-.19” (3.6-4.7 mm), and body height of .11”-.13” (2.7-3.4 mm). The common lifespan of the Rabid Wolf Spider is between 1-2 years.
Rabid Wolf Spiders (Rabidosa rabida) of the family Lycosidae have weird defense mechanisms that include biting, using sheer speed, or dropping a leg as a twitching distraction to escape danger. Males also dance or create a series of sounds with their legs to attract a mate. You can find them in wooded areas and cotton fields in North America, camouflaging in leaves and dry debris. This is possible by their dark or mottled colored body that helps them blend well in their environment, hence can ambush prey or escape predators. The Rabid Wolf Spider builds no web but catches prey by weaving silk which they also use to protect the young.
Male and female Rabid Wolf Spiders vary in size. The female Rabid Wolf Spider has an overall legspan length between 2.48”-3.27” (63-83 mm), body length of .63”-.83” (16-21 mm), body width of .22”-.26” (5.7-6.7 mm), and body height of .17”-.22” (4.2-5.6 mm). The male Rabid Wolf Spider has an overall legspan length between 1.57”-1.97” (40-50 mm), body length of .39”-.51” (10-13 mm), body width of .14”-.19” (3.6-4.7 mm), and body height of .11”-.13” (2.7-3.4 mm). The common lifespan of the Rabid Wolf Spider is between 1-2 years.
