The November Spider of the Month (SOTM) is this white sand wolf spider (Lycosidae), photographed by Cecile Roux in Dwarskersbos in the Western Cape. We are still not sure what genus this one belongs to (perhaps Evippomma?) and it most likely belongs to one of the MANY undescribed wolf spiders in South Africa.
Regarding this find, Cecile said:
“When I am sitting on the dunes at Dwarskersbos, I am always on the lookout for the beautiful small white wolf spiders. I haven’t seen one for a while, and they are so well camouflaged on the white sand – so this one made me smile widely. They are somehow less easily spooked than most other small lycosids, and can be coaxed to patiently face one while you lie down to take photos.”
We’re not sure if this species is naturally white or whether it’s a colour variation to blend in with the white sand of the dunes and whether they are found only on dunes or in other habitats. There is still so much we need to learn about them.
In Southern Africa, most wolf spiders are free-living hunters (except for Hippasa spp., which are funnel-web dwellers). Of these free-living hunters, Lycosa, Geolycosa, and Hogna are burrow dwellers, and Pirata species are associated with fresh water. On rare occasions, they can be found on the leaves and flowers of small plants. Most species are nocturnal and rely on their very good night vision to spot prey. Unlike the name suggests, they don’t often chase after their prey like wolves, but mostly rather sit and wait until prey passes them, and then pounce on it. They are very easy to spot at night with a headlamp, and the tapetum lucidum, which is a reflective layer behind the eyes that is present in other nocturnal hunters like cats, foxes, owls, etc., reflects the light from far away. They are also the only spiders that carry their young on their backs.
There are 139 genera of wolf spiders in the world, with 2507 recorded species. In South Africa, we have about 113 recorded species in 24 genera. This count will go up considerably once this family is revised.
Lycosidae (from the Greek word “lycos”) means “wolf”, or “tears like a wolf” (think lycanthropy, which is the supernatural affliction of turning into a werewolf). In Greek mythology, there was also the story of the king of Arcadia, named Lycaon, who was turned into a wolf by Zeus.
Cecile posted a similar photo of the same species back in October 2023, which also won the SOTM (her first SOTM). This one is her fourth SOTM. Of 177 people who voted, this photo received 106 (60%) votes. Congratulations, Cecile!