It is perhaps fair to say that Wolf Spiders are one of the most abundant types of spider, a strong torch or spotlight shone around open ground at night will light up their eyes here there and everywhere, to coin a phrase. They are frequent visitors to the moth light in search of an easy meal, and it is one such visit that prompted this post. While mothing out in the bush this extremely large individual came to the light, grabbed a moth and departed. The slater in the images will give an idea of the size of this spider, one of the Union Jack wolf spiders, so called because of the pattern on the thorax.

Female wolf spiders carry their egg sacs with them attached to their spinnerets.

This large female with a big egg sac was found struggling in flooded ground during heavy rain, she was rescued and relocated to a drier and safer spot.

When the spiderlings hatch the female carries them on her back until they are ready to leave home. These shots of a female in a garden bed were scanned from old Kodachrome slides.

Another species to the moth light in the foothills.

The Australian Museum has an excellent article on wolf spiders, link, where it is stated “Many also have very specific microhabitat preferences such as stream-side gravel beds” This shot of a wonderfully camouflaged wolf spider was taken some years ago on a gravel bed beside the Avon River.

And yes, the big one in the strawberry patch is still happily at home.