The rabid wolf spider, despite its alarming name, is harmless to people and is absolutely not rabid.
This species is a common Missouri wolf spider. It typically hides in leaf litter and sometimes gets into houses. A good field mark for this species is the series of slanted pale tan or orangish spots inside the brown center stripe on the abdomen; this helps separate it from the similar dotted wolf spider (Rabidosa punctulata). Also, look for the small white eyebrow-like marks behind the eyes.
Like other wolf spiders, these are athletic spiders that don’t spin webs to catch their insect prey; instead, they run it down like a wolf.
Female rabid wolf spiders have remarkable maternal instincts and are often seen carrying around their blue, gray, or tan, pea-sized egg cases attached to their spinnerets. If they are forced to drop the egg case, they return to search for it, sometimes frantically, then run away with it in their jaws, to reattach it to the spinnerets later. After the young spiders emerge, they ride around on their mother's abdomen until they are able to be independent.
Males of this species have the first pair of legs black or very dark brown.
There are many different species of wolf spiders, and they can be hard to identify to species.
Learn more about this and other wolf spiders on their group page.
Statewide.
Status
This species, like nearly every other spider, possesses a venom that enables it to subdue insect prey. It is possible that if mishandled this spider, like nearly any other, could bite a person. The bite is said to be painful for a few hours, but it is not considered medically significant.
Despite the name, this species cannot be rabid. It's impossible for spiders and insects to be rabid. Only mammals (including people) are capable of being infected with the rabies virus. Perhaps this spider got its name because it can run around very quickly, making it seem crazed.
Life Cycle
This species of wolf spider matures relatively early in the season, from early summer to midsummer, and females mate and carry their egg sacs between midsummer and early fall. Females carry spiderlings in the fall. Immature spiders (not eggs) overwinter in sheltered places, then finish their growth the following spring into early summer.
The timing of the rabid wolf spider's life cycle is different from the similar-looking dotted wolf spider, where fertilized females overwinter and then create and carry egg sacs in springtime. This can help identify the two species.
Human Connections
The labels we apply to species can contribute to our attitudes toward them. This spider’s fast, even frantic style of running no doubt led to its “rabid” name. However, there is no connection between this species and the rabies virus. Spiders can’t even get rabies; only mammals can.
