Geolycosa

Wolf spiders in the genus Geolycosa are commonly known as Burrowing Wolf Spiders. As their name implies, they spend much of their life in burrows, rarely leaving them. The relatively vertical burrows can be pretty long (170cm!) and the upper parts of the burrow are often reinforced with silk so the tunnel does not crumble inwards. Some species even have a turret that extends upward from the burrow entrance (see https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/119596857). These spiders are ambush hunters; they sit and wait near the entrance of their burrow for prey to stumble by and then rush out to grab their dinner. They mature in late summer, overwinter as adults and eggs are laid in the spring. Most species take two years to reach sexual maturity (Wallace, 1942).

Minnesota is blessed with three species of Geolycosa and since they rarely leave their burrows, very little is known about their distribution in the state.

G. missouriensis is known from 5 Minnesota counties from Kandiyohi and Hennepin north to Cass and Mille Lacs. This species prefers sandy soils with sparse vegetation, the debris of which is often incorporated into the shallow turret structure at the mouth of its burrow (Dondale & Redner, 1990). https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/135942978

G. turricola is only known from Ramsey County. It has a more easterly distribution and reaches the westernmost part of its range in Minnesota. As its name suggests, this species also has an elevated turret composed of sand, silk and vegetation at the mouth of its burrow. It also prefers sandy soils but has been found less sandy soils too. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/142013793

G. wrighti is known from 6 Minnesota counties, primarily from Wabasha north into the Twin Cities but also from Lake of the Woods County. This species prefers bare, sandy areas and their burrows are heavily lined with silk but lack a turret (Dondale & Redner, 1990). It may be a species to look for when visiting a beach. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/146937931

Much of the natural history information in this post was acquired from Dondale & Redner, 1990 except where noted otherwise.

•Dondale, C. D. & J. H. Redner. 1990. The insects and arachnids of Canada, Part 17. The wolf spiders, nurseryweb spiders, and lynx spiders of Canada and Alaska, Araneae: Lycosidae, Pisauridae, and Oxyopidae. Research Branch, Agriculture Canada, Publ. 1856: 1-383.

•Wallace, H. K. 1942. A revision of the burrowing spiders of the genus Geolycosa (Araneae: Lycosidae). American Midland Naturalist, 27: 1-62.

Posted on April 22, 2023 04:14 PM by cheins1