Wolf Spider (Lycosidae), Kempner, TX: 120508 pg 2

The body of this spider is portrayed here in dorsal (topwise) and ventral (underneath) views in the photos at right. The gross markings on a spider's body may often lead to instant identification to species, but for wolf spiders this is seldom true. Many of the Lycosidae look superficially alike, but have markedly different features that are not obvious without undertaking a microscopic examination. This specimen shows a prosoma (cephalothorax) with dorsal markings that vary from tan to dark brown; a light-colored median stripe, extending from the eyes to the abdomen, is broken only by a short, black longitudinal thoracic groove--in the middle of the pars thoracica. The pars cephalica shows a pair of dark longitudinal streaks in its posterior region, on each side of the light median stripe; these markings point to the genus Trochosa, with one notable exception. Some specimens of Hogna frondicola are distinguished by having darkened coxae, a darkened sternum, and a dark ventral abdomen, as in this specimen. Indeed, the essentially black underside of this specimen is striking, particularly as it contrasts sharply with the lighter coloration of the spider's lateral and dorsal body.  (Ubick et al, [2005], p. 167).  NEXT PAGE ---- PAGE Menu:  1 * 2 * 3 * 4 * 5 * 6 *

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