24 Types of Wolf Spiders in Massachusetts
24 types of wolf spiders have a verified observation record in Massachusetts. The most frequently recorded are Drumming Sword Wolf Spider, Rabid Wolf Spider and Wetland Giant Wolf Spider. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
Quick Answer
24 types of wolf spiders have a verified observation record in Massachusetts. The most frequently recorded are Drumming Sword Wolf Spider, Rabid Wolf Spider and Wetland Giant Wolf Spider. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
More Pages
More wolf spider pages for Massachusetts
Jump back to the main page for this route cluster.
Verified species, source iNaturalist
24 types of wolf spiders recorded in Massachusetts
24 wolf spider species have a verified observation record in Massachusetts, each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.
1 of the 24 shown is recorded as introduced to Massachusetts rather than native.
- No openly licensed photo yet1
- No openly licensed photo yet2
- No openly licensed photo yet3
- No openly licensed photo yet4
- No openly licensed photo yet5
- No openly licensed photo yet6
- No openly licensed photo yet7
- No openly licensed photo yet8
- No openly licensed photo yet9
- No openly licensed photo yet10
- No openly licensed photo yet11
- No openly licensed photo yet12
Also recorded in Massachusetts
| # | Species | Scientific name | Records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Varacosa avaraVaracosa avara | Varacosa avara | 55 |
| 14 | Unbanded Wolf SpiderHogna baltimoriana | Hogna baltimoriana | 45 |
| 15 | Trochosa sepulchralisTrochosa sepulchralis | Trochosa sepulchralis | 45 |
| 16 | Shiny Wolf SpiderPardosa moesta | Pardosa moesta | 37 |
| 17 | Dark-legged Pirate Wolf SpiderPirata montanus | Pirata montanus | 31 |
| 18 | Gladicosa pulchraGladicosa pulchra | Gladicosa pulchra | 31 |
| 19 | Pirate Otter SpiderPirata piraticus | Pirata piraticus | 20 |
| 20 | Marx pirate spiderTrebacosa marxi | Trebacosa marxi | 19 |
| 21 | Trabeops aurantiacusTrabeops aurantiacus | Trabeops aurantiacus | 16 |
| 22 | Geolycosa pikeiGeolycosa pikei | Geolycosa pikei | 16 |
| 23 | lance wolf spiderSchizocosa avida | Schizocosa avida | 15 |
| 24 | Woodland Giant Wolf SpiderTigrosa aspersa | Tigrosa aspersa | 13 |
Plus 15 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations.
The Drumming Sword Wolf Spider (Gladicosa gulosa) is the most commonly recorded, with 565 verified observations, about 20% of all wolf spiders reported in Massachusetts. If you spot a wolf spider here, it is statistically most likely to be this one.
Massachusetts also hosts less common wolf spiders such as Brush-legged Split Wolf Spider, Dotted Wolf Spider and Shore 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 Massachusetts rather than native, so it arrived with human help rather than on its own.