Will they visit?: They can establish a home in a garden located near large reserves
Natural Distribution: Common and widespread throughout the South West and Perth region
Lycosa – Colin Prickett (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
Lycosidae – tangatawhenua (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Wolf Spider. (C) Sian Mawson
Wolf Spider. (C) Sian Mawson
Habitat at a Glance
See Habitat Guide for more detail
Shelter: Most Wolf Spiders are wanderers and live a rather transient lifestyle, but some build burrows.
Diet: Invertebrates and small animals (including small lizards and frogs)
Water: Not required
ReWild Benefit: Pest Control
Habitat Guide - Shelter
Natural Shelter
Go out in the garden at night and shine a torch in the undergrowth. You will most likely see the glittering and iridescent eyes of a Wolf Spider.
They do not construct webs and roam freely amongst low shrubs and leaf-litter found in the garden. They are peaceful and not aggressive when left alone.
Novel Shelter
Not required.
Habitat Guide - Food and Water
Providing natural sources of food
Wolf Spiders enjoy life in the undergrowth as they search for their favourite prey. They feed on insects attracted to the garden. Plant small shrubs and clumping grasses to provide foraging habitat. They also hunt for insects living amongst mulch and leaflitter around home gardens.
Providing sources of water
Some species of wolf spider are attracted to damplands and frog ponds in search of food and shelter.
ReWild Benefits
Spiders control pests (such as annoying cockroaches) around the garden and benefit our neighbourhoods as we work to drive a healthy environment for our community. If you see a spider, you can record your sighting on the Atlas of Living Australia and help scientists monitor populations. It is a great place to find the name of different spider species.
