How to Breed Wolf Spiders

Although many think of creepy crawlies when they hear the word spider, there are those who see the arachnids not as threats, but as pets. Being larger and more manageable than their household counterparts are, wolf spiders often make the top of the list as pets. As with any pet, owners often want to breeding. While wolf spiders are elusive and secretive even in their own environment, they can be aided in their reproduction.

Things You'll Need

  • Male wolf spider
  • Female wolf spider
  • Aquarium
  • Items for aquarium setting (e.g. wood, foliage)
  • Spider food (e.g. insects)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Make sure you have a male and female wolf spider. Identifying the sex of the wolf spiders is one part towards breeding. Male wolf spiders have swollen pedipalps, short appendages near the front of his body. Female wolf spiders are larger than their male counterparts are and have an epigynum, an external structure for acceptance of sperm. It is important that only one male and one female are present at a time. Dual sets of male or female spiders can lead to fights between two females or males. Wolf spiders can be territorial and challenge one another.

    • 2

      Create an environment ideal for mating. An aquarium with an environment for the wolf spiders' lifestyle will allow them to feel more natural and less apprehensive about their location. Foliage and items providing shade, and an enclosure, mimic a natural setting. Set the aquarium temperature to a typical room temperature of 70 degrees F or warmer. This is conducive to normalizing the spiders' behavior. Provide plenty of food as an abundant source of nourishment will aid in mating and egg fertilization. Wolf spiders' diet consists of insects such as cockroaches, crickets, fly-grubs, and mealworms.

    • 3

      Look for mating signs. The male wolf spider will raise his pedipalps, short appendages, and his front legs in the air to attract the female and notify her of mating. A male wolf spider may also hop around, circle the female, and vibrate parts of his body. He will then spin a silk ball, and release sperm into it, then place it on the ends of his pedipalps. Once the female wolf spider is ready, she will allow him to place the ball on her stomach. She will use the sperm to fertilize her eggs immediately or up to a month after the mating. Once the eggs are fertilized, the female wolf spider will carry the eggs behind her in a sack until they hatch as spiderlings.

    • 4

      Be patient. Spider mating can take time and sometimes, multiple partners. Male wolf spiders do not normally live past one full mating season so he may die before mating. This will require another male, another try, and time for the two to create offspring.