Are you seeing more wolf spiders in California? Here’s how to recognize them and stay safe

As sweltering temperatures continue to bake California, the sprinters of the spider world may shimmying their way inside to beat the heat.

A Sacramento resident recently took to social media to ask about the large, hairy arachnid they found in their home.

“Found this beast in our laundry room,” Reddit user Faithful2049 wrote in a July 2 post, sharing a photo of the spider. “Anybody know anything about it?”

“Just your friendly neighborhood wolf spider,” another Reddit user, 10Ggames, replied.

Here’s how to identify wolf spiders, how to avoid them and what to do if you get bitten by one.

Are wolf spiders common in California?

Wolf spiders are among the most common types of spiders found in California, said Jeff Lyons, sales and retention representative with Pro Active Pest Control in Northern California and Arizona. The company has served the Sacramento region for roughly 10 years.

Other arachnids frequently spotted in the Golden State include black widow spiders and daddy longlegs, also known as harvestmen, he said.

“Wolf spiders have figured out how to live just about anywhere,” National Geographic wrote on its site, including rocky mountaintops, volcanic lava tubs, wheat crops, rain forests and residential lawns.

“There’s likely one nearby,” National Geographic added.

What do wolf spiders look like?

Wolf spiders can be identified by their dark mottled colors and eight dark eyes, according to National Geographic.

How do they catch their meals? Speed.

Most of these hairy spiders, which can grow more than two inches long, don’t spin webs. Instead, Lyons said, they hunt their prey and pounce on them like wolves at the last second.

The spiders then mash their prey into balls or inject it with venom.

This step liquefies the bug’s internal organs into a “wolf spider smoothie,” National Geographic said.

The arachnids eat everything from crickets and ants to grasshoppers and other spiders.

Where can I find wolf spiders?

“(Wolf spiders) are everywhere,” Lyons told The Sacramento Bee via phone on Wednesday.

He said it’s normal to find the eight-legged creatures surfing your kitchen counter or hiding under an object in your home.

Bug season is typically between March and November, Lyons told The Bee in a previous story, but wolf spiders can be spotted year-round.

Lyons advises people to call pest control if they spot a wolf spider in their home.

When the spiders aren’t invading properties, they typically linger near decayed plants to avoid being spotted by prey and predators.

They’re also known to bury themselves under rocks or logs.

How can I keep spiders outside of my home?

Here’s some ways to keep wolf spiders out of your home, courtesy of Big Blue Bug Solutions:

• Regularly clean low-traffic areas such as basements, attics and closets
• Seal cracks
• Trim vegetation around your home
• Place sticky traps along the baseboards

What’s the difference between wolf spiders and brown recluse spiders?

Wolf spiders and brown recluse spiders are often confused for one another because of the arachnids’ timid nature and motley combinations of browns, blacks and grays, according to Kapture Pest Control.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, brown recluse spiders are typically found in the Midwest and South regions of the United States.

However, Lyons said, you can see them in Southern California.

Brown recluse spiders’ bites can cause skin necrosis, Lyons said. “It’s gross.”

If you’re bitten by one, he said, your best course of action is a trip to the hospital.

Are wolf spiders dangerous to humans? Pets?

Lyons said wolf spiders aren’t aggressive and only bite humans and pets in self-defense.

Their bites don’t pose a significant health risk.

What should I do if I’m bitten by a spider?

Humans bitten by wolf spiders can experience symptoms such as pain and swelling that should subside with time, the Cleveland Clinic wrote on its site.

The clinic added that medical attention isn’t typically required for wolf spider bites unless there’s an allergic reaction, but that’s rare.

Banner Pest Services gives similar advice for pets bitten by the spiders.

This story was originally published July 14, 2024 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Are you seeing more wolf spiders in California? Here’s how to recognize them and stay safe."