The dotted wolf spider looks quite similar to the better-known rabid wolf spider, which is in the same genus. You can distinguish the dotted wolf spider by its distinctive spotted pattern of dark spots on the yellowish-tan underside of the abdomen; and the (easier-to-see) solid brown stripe running down the midline of the abdomen, seen from above. Also, male dotted wolf spiders do not have black or especially dark brown first pair of legs, as male rabid wolf spiders do.
There are 5 species in genus Rabidosa in North America north of Mexico. This species (R. punctulata) and the rabid wolf spider (R. rabidosa) are the only two most likely to be found in Missouri.
Like other wolf spiders, these athletic spiders don’t spin webs to catch their insect prey; instead, they run it down like a wolf.
Female wolf spiders have remarkable maternal instincts and are often seen carrying around their egg cases attached to their spinnerets. After the young spiders emerge, they ride around on their mother's abdomen until they are able to be independent.
Learn more about this and other wolf spiders on their group page.
Life Cycle
This species of wolf spider matures and mates in autumn, and fertilized adult females overwinter in sheltered places. In late winter or spring, they construct their egg cases; a month later, they can be seen carrying their young on their backs. Thus female dotted wolf spiders with young may be seen quite early in the year, in spring. Female dotted wolf spiders, however, may also create one or two additional egg cases before the season ends.
The overall timing of the dotted wolf spider's life cycle is different from the similar-looking rabid wolf spider, where juvenile spiders overwinter, then mature and mate by midsummer, with females carrying egg sacs between midsummer and early fall, and carrying spiderlings in the fall. This difference in timing can be helpful in identifying the two species.
