CLOSED: Probably a Wolf Spider but biggest I have seen

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mattman59 Burleson, TX Apr 25, 2009

I was mowing the other day and ran across this guy. They are pretty common in my area (North Texas) but by far this was the largest specimen I had ever seen. I just happened to have my iPhone and a dollar bill on me for size reference.

Thumbnail by mattman59
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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Apr 26, 2009

This is indeed a wolf spider, and given its size, it could be Hogna (formerly Lycosa) carolinensis, the largest species in this family in North America - see
http://tinyurl.com/cgqe7w for an example. Please remember that these spiders, like most of their ilk, can exhibit considerable individual variation in color pattern. You could spend a lot of time searching images online and likely not find one identical to yours. Finally, although not dangerously venomous, the bite of a specimen this large would be quite painful, and in addition, carry the risk of secondary bacterial infection simply because it would be so deep.

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threegardeners North Augusta, ON Apr 26, 2009

For the life of me I can't see a spider in that photo!!

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trackinsand mid central, FL(Zone 9a) Apr 26, 2009

nice dollar bill though.....seriously, i think he's above the bill, in the underbrush.

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Malus2006 Coon Rapids, MN(Zone 4a) Apr 27, 2009

yes he's almost half the size of the dollar! I just saw one that was about 2 inches from legspans but it look small compare to the one in picture.

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trackinsand mid central, FL(Zone 9a) Apr 27, 2009

you ought to see the size of the Southern House Spider here. you'd swear someone was pulling a prank on you if you saw one run across your wall. they're like big hairless tarantulas........harmless but it sure does give you a jolt to see one.

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Apr 27, 2009

Re: "you ought to see the size of the Southern House Spider here..."
Are you sure that you aren't referring to a giant crab spider (family Sparassidae)? Sometimes also called huntsman spiders, these can have quite an impressive leg span, and are far more likely to be seen on a wall than a Southern house spider (family Filistatidae), which tends to stay in crevices and other shelter. See http://tinyurl.com/d2e8oe for a southern house spider and http://tinyurl.com/ctshky for giant crab spiders.

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trackinsand mid central, FL(Zone 9a) Apr 27, 2009

suunto, we have the huntsman spiders as well and they are also quite large. while the shp's here prefer the cracks and crevices, they occasionally venture out at night and can be seen on walls.

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PastorM Tucson, AZ May 10, 2009

Had one a little bigger than this fall onto the back of my neck as a kid in AZ. Knocked it off, caught it and kept it as a pet. Great spiders.

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