Spiders! I love 'em. Especially ground dwelling, hunting spiders. Especially the ol' Wolf spider. Currently, I have one in an empty liquor jug siting right behind me! It was quite difficult to get a picture of the arachnid so I will tell you the tale-tale markings of a Wolf spider. As you can see from the picture above, the back has a creamy stripe but what really gives it away as a Wolf spider is the belly. Wolf Spider bellies are black. Now, how do you know you have a GIANT Wolf spider? Well if the spider is old enough you'll know my its SIZE. Its not a tarantula, but it certainly can reach the "oh my" mark. The reason I love the Wolf spider so intensely is that they are great hunters. I plop a cricket bigger than the spider is in the jar and she'll pounce on it! Its amazing to watch. Of course then she'll suck all the liquids from the crickets body until there is a mangled, dried up, cricket skeleton left, but hey, it all in the aura of such a remarkable predator. Also, the Wolf spider has a painful bite and is venomous though non-aggressive unless provoked.
These spiders are usually found at night around houses and in gardens and such. They like tall grass with lots of grasshoppers, crickets and other prey in it. I see more in the summer, around July. Happy hunting!
Here's a link to information spiders in Alabama. It'll tell you which are venomous and which are not. http://www.termite.com/spider-identification.html
Here's a link to information for ALL states on which spiders are venomous and which are not. http://www.termite.com
Questions? Ask me!! I love answering.
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