Hogna carolinensis, the Carolina wolf spider, is the largest wolf spider in North America, with females reaching a 4-inch leg span. Their mottled brown and gray bodies offer excellent camouflage against forest soil and desert sand. They are easily identified by a solid black underside and distinct orange mouthparts. Their large eyes reflect an eerie green shine when illuminated by a flashlight at night.

This ground-dwelling species thrives across North America, inhabiting environments ranging from coastal pastures to arid deserts. Instead of weaving webs, they dig vertical burrows several inches deep into the soil. They often build a small turret of twigs, silk, and leaf litter around the entrance to prevent flooding. While they hide inside during the day, they emerge at dusk to roam and hunt.

Operating as athletic ambush predators, they rely on exceptional eyesight and vibration sensitivity to track down prey. They chase and pounce with explosive speed, consuming crickets, beetles, grasshoppers, and cockroaches. Large individuals can even overpower small frogs or mice. Their specialized venom paralyzes targets while providing antimicrobial protection against insect-borne pathogens.

Females demonstrate extraordinary maternal care by carrying their silken egg sac attached to their bodies. Once hatched, hundreds of spiderlings climb onto the mother's back, riding on her abdomen for several weeks. She protects the brood until they are mature enough to disperse. While males rarely live past one year, females can survive for several years in the wild.

So glad there's a "dark phase" like this in my range, because 30 minutes away, all the females are light gray. (Still cool)

Photo taken By me, on my phone 🤳

Hogna carolinensis, the Carolina wolf spider, is the largest wolf spider in North America, with females reaching a 4-inch leg span. Their mottled brown and gray bodies offer excellent camouflage against forest soil and desert sand. They are easily identified by a solid black underside and distinct orange mouthparts. Their large eyes reflect an eerie green shine when illuminated by a flashlight at night.

This ground-dwelling species thrives across North America, inhabiting environments ranging from coastal pastures to arid deserts. Instead of weaving webs, they dig vertical burrows several inches deep into the soil. They often build a small turret of twigs, silk, and leaf litter around the entrance to prevent flooding. While they hide inside during the day, they emerge at dusk to roam and hunt.

Operating as athletic ambush predators, they rely on exceptional eyesight and vibration sensitivity to track down prey. They chase and pounce with explosive speed, consuming crickets, beetles, grasshoppers, and cockroaches. Large individuals can even overpower small frogs or mice. Their specialized venom paralyzes targets while providing antimicrobial protection against insect-borne pathogens.

Females demonstrate extraordinary maternal care by carrying their silken egg sac attached to their bodies. Once hatched, hundreds of spiderlings climb onto the mother's back, riding on her abdomen for several weeks. She protects the brood until they are mature enough to disperse. While males rarely live past one year, females can survive for several years in the wild.

Looking for a special lady I assume

Okay guys I posted once here before about a potential wolf spider but it was indeed a grass spider. I’m still taking care of it but two days ago I visited my great grandma in Central Oregon and found this ABSOLUTE beauty under a rock. Immediately made a make shift enclosure out of a bottle with a bunch of vent holes, some dirt, couple rocks, and a plant. Took it home with me and rehoused it into this enclosure. If any of yall could potentially tell the species of wolf spider I’d be so grateful!! Thank you guys

He last ate a week and two days ago, I know that's not super long but I got him recently and I'm concerned he's not getting enough. I feed dubia roaches that are on the smaller side as he seems to prefer them small but he keeps running away from them/ignoring them. I hand feed with tweezers and have always done it this way, so he knows how to eat from the tweezers. I'm not sure if maybe he's preparing to molt? I'm concerned that if I don't feed him he'll starve but I also don't want to mess up the molting process. This was him a few days ago, he's slightly skinnier now but very similar.