Wolf Spider Identification Melbourne
Identify wolf spiders — ground-dwelling Melbourne hunters active at night.
Wolf Spider in Melbourne — Quick Answer
Wolf spiders are common ground-dwelling hunters found in Melbourne gardens, lawns, and occasionally inside homes. They range from 15–35 mm in body length with brown, grey, and tan patterning for camouflage. Wolf spiders do not build webs — they chase prey on the ground and are often seen running across lawns at night. Bites are painful but not dangerous. T47 Pest Control provides perimeter treatments that reduce wolf spider populations around Melbourne properties.
How to Identify Wolf Spider
Size
15–35 mm body length
Colour
Brown, grey, and tan mottled pattern; camouflage colouring
Behaviour
Ground-dwelling hunter, does not build webs; fast runner; carries egg sac attached to spinnerets; nocturnal
Habitat
Garden beds, lawns, under logs and rocks, leaf litter; occasionally enters ground-floor rooms
Look-Alikes & Confusion Notes
Can be confused with huntsman spiders or mouse spiders. Wolf spiders are stockier and ground-dwelling, whereas huntsmen have flatter bodies and climb walls. Mouse spiders are glossier and have broader heads.
Risk & Urgency
Low. Wolf spider bites are painful and may cause localised swelling but are not medically significant. They are beneficial predators that control garden pests. Treatment is recommended only for high populations near living areas.
Where Found in Melbourne
Wolf spiders are found across Melbourne, particularly in suburban gardens with ground cover, mulch, and leaf litter. They are most active at night and are frequently seen on lawns during warmer months when hunting.
What to Do Now
Reduce ground cover and leaf litter near the house, seal gaps under doors, and reduce exterior lighting that attracts prey insects. Wolf spiders are generally beneficial — professional treatment is only necessary when numbers are high or they regularly enter living spaces.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are wolf spiders dangerous?
- Wolf spiders are not considered dangerous. Their bites are painful and may cause localised swelling and redness, but symptoms resolve within a few days without medical treatment. They do not have medically significant venom.
- Why do wolf spiders carry their babies?
- Female wolf spiders carry their egg sac attached to their spinnerets. After hatching, the spiderlings climb onto the mother's back and ride there until they are large enough to disperse. This behaviour is unique among Australian spider species.
Related Species
Huntsman Spider
Identify huntsman spiders — large, fast but mostly harmless Melbourne spiders.
Funnel-Web Spider
Identify funnel-web spiders — dangerous ground-dwelling spiders occasionally found in Melbourne.
White-Tail Spider
Identify white-tail spiders — wandering hunters with a distinctive white tip.