The Wolf Spider

Your Chicagoland Guide on Wolf Spiders

The Breakdown

COLOR

SIZE

LEGS

DANGER RATING

Brown/Gray

1/2 – 1 in

Eight

HIGH

The Infamous Wolf Spider

Wolf spiders are about 1/2-1 inch long and are usually brown or gray. These hairy creatures most often get mistaken for the brown recluse, but differ due to their lack of a violin shaped marking on their heads. Wolf spiders get their name from being on the ground and always on the hunt. These spiders do not make webs to get their prey, instead they hunt on the grounds at night. These spiders are fast on their feet and bury most of their eggs in tunnels. Wolf spiders are solitary creatures and don’t live or travel in packs. They usually enter homes during the months when the temperatures are cooling down to ensure warmth over the winter. These spider bites are not lethal, however it can be very painful and we still recommend that you seek medical attention if bitten.

Signs of an Infestation

A wolf spider infestation will be pretty obvious especially if they are getting comfortable in your home. These spiders enter through gaps under doors and through crevices. The main way to tell if you have an infestation is just seeing the spiders themselves since they do not make webs.
They don’t usually come out when people are around, so it can be a sign of a pretty severe infestation when you start seeing them. Most times they enter homes when fall hits and the weather is cooling down because they are looking for somewhere warm to stay before winter hits. Some things that you can do to help with preventing an infestation is to remove clutter from the gutters or the outside areas of your home. They are attracted to the leaves and other piles of debris that surround your home. You also want to see what kind of lights you have outside, certain lights attract insects and these are what the wolf spiders feed on. An infestation of wolf spiders may not be life threatening but it’s good to steer clear of them because their bites are extremely painful.

Understanding the Seasons

Weather has a profound effect on pest life cycle. Most pests, rodents and insects breed aggressively during spring and go through periods of hibernation during autumn and winter.

When the weather slowly begins to heat up, pests start to get more active after having stayed dormant over the colder winter months.

  • Birds often start to find mates and start building their nests.
  • Moths which consumer leaves usually become active again.
  • Flies often emerge from their winter hibernation places and start to breed and spread out.
  • Squirrels also spend the winter in hibernation. When spring approaches these creatures start looking for a new home. This is usually the time when they make their way into lofts and other spaces.

Summer is arguably the best season for pests. It is the time when they are in full swing and breed as rapidly as they can. Wasps are one of the most common summer pests followed by flies and rodents. Many a summer picnics and BBQs have been ruined by the ‘home invasion’ of these pests.

  • Wasps build their nesting grounds and lay their eggs during this time. Although the creatures are not directly harmful, they can be very aggressive and territorial at this time of the year, because they’re at their strongest.
  • The number of fleas also multiplies. Since pets spend more time outdoors during summer, they are more likely to bring the pests back indoors with them.
  • Bees are also more active during summer as they go out to gather nectar. Many times, homeowners find a new beehive in their garden and require pest control to take care of it. Because of their sting, bees are more dangerous than some of the other pests and you should call our professional service to get rid of them.
  • Moths and flies usually start to multiply significantly during summer.
  • Ants begin to swarm to find new mates and start new colonies during summer.
  • Cockroaches become very noticeable in the summer, especially in the kitchen and toilets. This is due to the hotter temperatures and stronger smells.
  • Bedbugs are also very active in the summer.

Autumn is the month when things start to get cooler. The number of pests starts to dwindle as they begin to slow down their breeding activities.

  • Wasps start becoming dozy and docile. You may find them buzzing around occasionally as if they are drunk. This is usually the end-time for their life.
  • Spiders in particular are more active at this time of the year.
  • Squirrels will gather their food and start to look for shelter.
  • The second breeding phase for flies begins. These pests remain active during the season.
  • Rodents also become more active. Due to the approaching cold, rodents usually find shelter inside homes in the loft or inside walls.

The coldest months are when pests seek out warmth and shelter. You will find a number of insects especially rodents and lizards make their way inside your home.

  • Spiders come into our homes to escape the web-destroying frosts.
  • Rodents move indoors to escape the cold, increasing infestations.
  • In many cases, homeowners find squirrels nesting in lofts when they go to get their Christmas decorations.

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