Wolf spider?

Did some internet research, but thought I would consult some help here. Bought this house a little over 2 years ago and would find one of these guys once a month or so. My dogs would usually pounce them and I'd find them curled up on the floor. Lately I've been finding more and more of them and some big ones - legs would reach out to the size of a quarter. About a week ago, I found 2 sitting right behind me in my office - they're not afraid of us. My wife didn't mind them until she stepped on one and little ones went EVERYWHERE. So she's tired of them. On top of that, my wife is pregnant and really wants something done before the baby is born. Providing they're harmless, I just want to cut down on the abundance of them which, since we're finding babies, I'm afraid the numbers will grow exponentially. Here are the pics. The first one I found during the day, he was a little less than half an inch as you see him. The second one was gargantuan at about an inch or a little more. Thanks in advance for the help.

#1 is a Jumping Spider and #2 might be a Wolf but will need a clearer pic.

I agree that #2 is probably a wolf spider Alopecosa cuneata....played with the contrast a bit and got a slightly better image.....the grey textured surface under it makes it interesting...grin


http://www.naturephoto-cz.com/wolf-spiders.html

http://www.everythingabout.net/articles/biology/animals/arthropods/arachnids/spiders/wolf_spider/

Here is jnfo on Phidippus one species of the jumping spiders

http://www.pbase.com/tmurray74/jumping_spiders_genus_phidippus

Here is info on the genus Salticidae

http://ednieuw.home.xs4all.nl/Spiders/Salticidae/Salticidae.htm

Okay, note to self...read the text first.

I agree with Wolf considering babies ran off when she stepped on it. Neither spider is dangerous, however, they can give a painful bite if provoked enough.

My suggestion, as always, is relocate them outside if you can.

They are hunters and usually are content outside, but during wet weather, they will often seek shelter indoors. You may want to check your weather stripping at the bottom of your doors...they can scoot in through a fairly small gap.

I have 2 Jumpers, one at the front door and one at the back. They keep the house fairly free of bugs. The Wolfs hunt other spiders.

We have a tiny ferocious Phidippus that lives in/under our mail box. It is about the size of a small pea, but must think it is the size of a gorilla....lol

Sorry, saw the second one on the couch today. Also had babies on it that scattered when I tried to relocate it. Creepy buggers. It's been unusually rainy here the past couple months, overwhelming drainage systems and such. That would explain why we've seen so many of them.

I would also say that maybe some of the escaping babies are surviving inside...they are cannibalistic, and the stronger ones would eat the weaker ones to survive...

http://www.esajournals.org/doi/abs/10.2307/2265637

"Ferocious Phidippus..." LOL!

The one we have here is the P audax...Bold jumping spider....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phidippus_audax

I'd never kill a jumping spider, but to be honest, I will kill any wolf spider that I find inside .side
But better idea is to try and make them stay outside.