I came across this female Wolf Spider carrying her babies across a road near my place here in Arkansas. I posted a photo of A Large Cluster Of Baby Spiders back on the 3rd of April and I mentioned how some spiders will carry their young. How lucky am I to now find one doing just that.
When I first spotted this spider I didn’t see the young because they were so well camouflaged. Once I figured out what I had I tried to get low so that I could show everyone. This was very difficult because she would move away from me. It is a good thing there is not a lot of traffic on this road. Someone would probably call the police in reference to someone lying in the road.
Wolf Spider Facts
Wolf spiders are unique in the way that they carry their eggs. The egg sac, a round silken globe, is attached to the spinnerets at the end of the abdomen, allowing the spider to carry her unborn young with her. The abdomen must be held in a raised position to keep the egg case from dragging on the ground. However, despite this handicap, they are still capable of hunting. Another aspect unique to wolf spiders is their method of infant care. Immediately after the spiderlings emerge from their protective silken case, they clamber up their mother’s legs and crowd onto her abdomen.
Because they depend on camouflage for protection, they do not have the flashy appearance of some other kinds of spiders. In general their coloration is appropriate to their favorite habitat.
There are many genera of wolf spider, ranging in body size (legs not included) from less than 0.4 to 1.38 inches. (Wikipedia)