Wolf spiders

Code MA369999

A family of labidognathan spiders. Lycosids are the dominant ground-hunting spider family in many areas of Australia. They occur in a wide variety of habitats, including near water bodies, where they will run onto the surface of the water to catch their prey (mainly flying insects) (Main, 1976; Williams, 1980). Many live in burrows while others build no retreats (Main et al., 1985). Differences in humidity tolerance may determine habitat preferences of lycosid species (Norgaard, 1951).

Most of the semi-aquatic species are probably disperved via gossamer threads ('ballooning') rather than over ground, because their habitats (especially in arid areas) are often quite isolated. No species venomous to humans are found in Australia, although their bites are still painful (Main, 1976).

Lycosids are sometimes dramatically coloured, with contrasting shades of yellow, brown, and grey or black, sometimes with prominant leg bands; however, most semi-aquatic species are a drab brown. Lycosa arenaris, a small brownish-grey mottled spider, is one of the lycosids most often encountered by aquatic collectors (Main, 1976; Main, 1980; Williams 1980). Some species, including Lycosa lapidosa, are major predators of amphibians (Raven, 1990).

Representative genera found in Australia include (Main et al., 1985): Anomalomma (also: southern Africa, India, Java and Luzon), Anomalosa (endemic), Anoteropsis (also: New Zealand and Papua New Guinea), Artoria (also: Polynesia, Celebes and South Africa), Lycosa (cosmopolitan), Pardosa (cosmopolitan), Trabaeosa (endemic), Trochosa (cosmopolitan), Venator (endemic), Venonia (also: Singapore, India), Zoica (also: Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea).

Lycosids inhabit both mainland Australia and Tasmania. With the exception of mainland Antarctica, lycosids inhabit every major land mass including the Arctic (Parker, 1982).

References

Main, B.Y. 1976. Spiders. Collins, Sydney.

Main, B.Y. 1980. Spiders of Australia. Axiom Books, South Australia.

Main, B.Y., V.T. Davies, and M.S. Harvey. 1985. Zoological Catalogue of Australia, Vol. 3: Arachnida: Mygalomorphae, Araneomorphae in part; Pseudoscorpionida; Amblypygi and Palpigradi. AGPS for Bureau of Flora and Fauna, Canberra.

Norgaard, E. 1951. On the ecology of two lycosid spiders (Pirata piraticus and Lycosa pullata) from a Danish sphagnum bog. Oikos 3: 1-21.

Parker, S.P. 1982. Synopsis and Classification of Living Organisms. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York.

Raven, R.J. 1990. Spider predators of reptiles and Amphibia. Mem. Qld. Mus. 29: 488.

Williams, W.D. 1980. Australian Freshwater Life: the Invertebrates of Australian Inland Waters. The Macmillan Company of Australia, Melbourne.