15 Types of Wolf Spiders in Iowa

15 types of wolf spiders have a verified observation record in Iowa. The most frequently recorded are Wetland Giant Wolf Spider, Rabid Wolf Spider and Brush-legged Split Wolf Spider. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.

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15 types of wolf spiders have a verified observation record in Iowa. The most frequently recorded are Wetland Giant Wolf Spider, Rabid Wolf Spider and Brush-legged Split Wolf Spider. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.

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Verified species, source iNaturalist

15 types of wolf spiders recorded in Iowa

15 wolf spider species have a verified observation record in Iowa, each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.

1 of the 15 shown is recorded as introduced to Iowa rather than native.

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    1

    Wetland Giant Wolf Spider

    Tigrosa helluo

    329 records
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    2

    Rabid Wolf Spider

    Rabidosa rabida

    82 records
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    3

    Brush-legged Split Wolf Spider

    Schizocosa ocreata

    35 records
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    4

    Carolina Wolf Spider

    Hogna carolinensis

    34 records
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    5

    lance wolf spider

    Schizocosa avida

    33 records
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    6

    Shore Spider

    Pardosa milvina

    32 records
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    7

    Woodland Giant Wolf Spider

    Tigrosa aspersa

    31 records
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    8

    Shoreline Wolf Spider

    Arctosa littoralis

    23 records
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    9

    Tigrosa grandis

    Tigrosa grandis

    23 records
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    10

    Drumming Sword Wolf Spider

    Gladicosa gulosa

    22 records
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    11

    Dotted Wolf Spider

    Rabidosa punctulata

    19 records
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    12

    Stone Spider

    Pardosa lapidicina

    16 records

Also recorded in Iowa

#SpeciesRecords
13Rustic Wolf SpiderIntroducedTrochosa ruricola16
14Trochosa sepulchralisTrochosa sepulchralis14
15Redlined Wolf SpiderArctosa rubicunda12

Plus 16 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations.

The Wetland Giant Wolf Spider (Tigrosa helluo) is the most commonly recorded, with 329 verified observations, about 46% of all wolf spiders reported in Iowa. If you spot a wolf spider here, it is statistically most likely to be this one.

Iowa also hosts less common wolf spiders such as Rabid Wolf Spider, Brush-legged Split Wolf Spider and Carolina Wolf Spider, each recorded fewer than 100 times. These are the species worth a second look when you are out, since a sighting is more notable.

Not every one of these is originally from here. Rustic Wolf Spider is recorded by iNaturalist as introduced in Iowa rather than native, so it arrived with human help rather than on its own.