Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

Continuing with the trip to Iowa last summer.
Much time with the camera was spent by going out at night to look for critters that came to the porch light. Venturing further with flashlight in hand (to look for singing katydids), I found the glowing eyes of a very large wolf spider. It retreated to its burrow, but I returned at dawn and saw she was back out again. I got this picture with the flash and long lens.
Wolf at burrow by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

On a different night, I was quite happy to find two large wolves had come to the porch light. Both within inches of one another. I captured these, and here they are in posed pictures. Note the darker one with the house spider photo bomb. I later learned that both are Tigrosa aspersa – the same species -- and that the lighter one is a male! Really equal in size to the big female, but more delicately built and longer legged. This probably explains why they were together on the porch, as the male was likely trying his luck with the female before I unknowingly interrupted them.
Large wolf spider by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Wolf in the house by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Wolf in the house by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

A day or two later I came across this dramatic scene where a large spider wasp, the Rusty Spider Wasp (Tachypompilus ferrugineus), was carrying off a paralyzed male Tigrosa. She brought it under a shed, so that would be where she was raising young.
Spider wasp with wolf spider by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

The big female went home with me to Michigan, and there I got some interesting pictures of wolf spider eye-shine. Stay tuned!

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Great set Mark

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

WOW!!! You have submitted some interesting and fantastic photos of the wolf spider. I look forward to seeing more.

Dennis

JimmyTB

Excellent images as always. I might have to try your night wolf spider hunting technique

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

Highly recommended. Hold the flashlight right next to your eyes so that the angle between the light, spider eyes, and your eyes is minimal. That makes eye-shine especially strong.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Super great job, Mark.👍🤩👍

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Excellent.

philo Loc: philo, ca

they are beautiful in their own way. Do they bit?

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

They can most certainly bite. Although I see lots of pictures of people handling large wolf spiders, I've sworn that off after being bitten when carefully handling a different species of large wolf spider. They certainly aren't aggressive, and they will run when disturbed, but I don't push it any more.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

We live in a big world, they in a small one usually not noticed. Once seen, their would is fascinating. This is a good series... can we put ourselves in their would with our imagination?

You did well Mark, hunting and photographing their hunting world.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Well done! Growing up in Iowa, our barn spider population were the only bigger ones (harmless, size of nickel). Wisely, as a kid, I never ventured out in search of others. It’s probably a good thing.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Dupe

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Dupe

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

I grew up in Iowa as well, and so my 'barn spiders' are probably your barn spiders. They are no problem. I would handle them, and even took to popping one into my mouth to gross out the girls!