What kind of spider is this? Is it dangerous?

summersday Newalla, OK Mar 25, 2009

Do I kill it or let it go? I am terribly scared of spiders, although this one is huge!!! I just can't kill it. Can someone tell me if it is dangerous? What is the type of spider?

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Dorkasaurus Albuquerque, NM(Zone 7a) Mar 25, 2009

Looks like a wolf spider to me. They are poisonous but not aggressive therefore unlikely to bite you unless you're a bug or provoke it (This is true of most spiders...they don't seek out people to bite). They're generally considered a "non-threat" to humans. They usually hunt at night and do not catch prey by constructing webs but rather by chasing and pouncing on it. Personally I consider most spiders beneficial and leave them alone, as they eat other annoying bugs. If you found it in your yard or garden I say leave it there, if you found it inside just toss it back outside.

This message was edited Mar 25, 2009 2:34 AM

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Mar 25, 2009

This could be a male wolf spider in the genus Hogna (formerly Lycosa) - see http://tinyurl.com/2lz24 for an example. As the previous poster stated, they basically are harmless to humans, but like most larger spiders, they can deliver a painful bite if mishandled.

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