Stats

Lifespan

1-2 yrs

Size

Large

Diet

Insectivore

Activity

Nocturnal

Social

Solitary

Biome

Freshwater wetland

Range

North America

Movement

Running

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Venom

Status

Uncommon

About

One of the largest wolf spiders in eastern North America, this species prowls the muddy edges of ponds, marshes, and streams at night hunting insects and even small fish. A flashlight held at eye level reveals it instantly: its eyes throw back a bright green eyeshine, the same trick hunters use to spot wolf spiders across a dark field.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   egg sac

   A silk-wrapped egg sac shelters a clutch of eggs until the young are ready to emerge.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   A spiderling emerges from the egg sac already in miniature adult form and starts catching prey almost immediately.
3. 3.
   subadult

   A near-adult arachnid molts through several instars, growing larger and developing mature markings.
4. 4.
   adult

   Fully grown after its final molt.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Arachnida

Order

Araneae

Family

Lycosidae

Genus

Tigrosa

Species

Tigrosa helluo