Distribution, life history, and habitat information is given for 11 species of Pardosa which occur in Michigan

Wolff, Robert J

English

ValpoScholar

The Great Lakes Entomologist 
Volume 14 
Number 1 - Spring 1981 Number 1 - Spring 1981 Article 12 
April 1981 
Wolf Spiders of the Genus Pardosa (Araneae: Lycosidae) in 
Michigan 
Robert J. Wolff 
Trinity Christian College 
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle 
 Part of the Entomology Commons 
Recommended Citation 
Wolff, Robert J. 1981. "Wolf Spiders of the Genus Pardosa (Araneae: Lycosidae) in Michigan," The Great 
Lakes Entomologist, vol 14 (1) 
Available at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol14/iss1/12 
This Peer-Review Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Biology at ValpoScholar. 
It has been accepted for inclusion in The Great Lakes Entomologist by an authorized administrator of ValpoScholar. 
For more information, please contact a ValpoScholar staff member at scholar@valpo.edu. 
THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST 
WOLF SPIDERS OF THE GENUS PARDOSA (ARANEAE: 
LYCOSIDAE) IN MICHIGAN 
Robert J. ~ o l f f l 
ABSTRACT 
Distribution, life history, and habitat information is given for I I species of Pardosa which 
occur in Michigan. 
Pardosa are small wolf spiders abundant on the soil surface of fields and other more open 
habitats. They are a dominant member of the wandering guilds of spiders in temperate 
regions. Wolf spiders do not build webs, but are active hunters which wander in search of 
prey. 
Michigan distribution is mapped (Figs. 1-1 1) and life history data are presented for each 
species of Pardosa (Figs. 12-19). Both mature males and females were recorded. Females 
which were captured with an egg sac attached to the spinnerets or the young spiderlings 
holding on to her abdominal hairs are recorded in a separate category. For each category and 
time period, data for a maximum of 25 specimens are included. As specimens were taken by 
general collecting and pitfall trapping over all seasons, except under snow cover, the data 
should accurately reflect life histories. It is apparent that Pardosa have one generation a 
year and overwinter as immatures. Females may live for several months as adults and 
produce more than one egg sac. 
Kaston (1948) may be used for the identification of Michigan Pardosa. Levi and Field 
(1954) presented figures for identifying fuscula and groenlandica, and Chamberlin (1908) 
figured hyperborea. 
GENUS PARDOSA KOCH 1848 
distincta (Blackwall) 1846. (Fig. 2). Maturity is reached in the second half of June, with egg 
sacs appearing in late June, July, August, and into September (Fig. 12). Young overwinter 
as immatures. Habitats include beach, shore outcrop, old field, gravel pit, pine plantation, 
oak woods and maple woods. 
fuscula (Thorell) 1872. (Fig. 3). Mature males are found from late April to early June. A 
female with an egg sac was collected 16 July. They have been found on a sand beach, at 
the edge of a pond, and in a Typlza marsh. 
groenlandica (Thorell) 1872. (Fig. 4). Females were collected from rocky beaches on 28 May, 
24 June, 4 July, 17 August and females with egg sacs 27 June and 30 July. A male was 
taken 25 June. 
hyperborea (Thorell) 1869. A single male from a shore outcrop was taken 26 June on Isle 
Royale, Keweenaw County. 
lapidicina Emerton 1885. (Fig. 5). Found in a fir climax forest and on rocky beaches, this 
species matures in late August and September. Egg sacs appear throughout the summer, 
particularly in July (Fig. 13). 
l ~ i o l o g y Department, Trinity Christian College, 6601 West College Drive, Palos Heights, IL 60463 
1
Wolff: Wolf Spiders of the Genus Pardosa (Araneae: Lycosidae) in
Published by ValpoScholar, 1981
64 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST Vol. 14, No. 1 
WISCONSIN 
- 
Fig. I . The counties of the Stare of Michigan 
mackenziana (Keyserling) 1876. (Fig. 6). Maturity is gained in May and June. Females with 
egg sacs have been collected in July, August, and September (Fig. 14). This species has 
only been taken on rocky shores. 
milvina (Hentz) 1844. (Fig. 7). Maturity is gained in May and June (Fig. 15). Females with egg 
sacs have been collected in July, August, and September. Habitats include corn and 
vegetable fields, old field, lawn, mud flat, and swamp. 
modica (Blackwall) 1846. (Fig. 8). Maturity is reached in late fall and early spring (Fig. 16). 
This may be the only M~ch~gan species of which some adults overwinter. Collections are 
from old fields, oak forests, marsh, and lake shore. 
2
The Great Lakes Entomologist, Vol. 14, No. 1 [1981], Art. 12
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198 1 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST 65 
I G? P. groenlondico 4 P. lopidicino 
moesta Banks 1892. (Fig. 9). This species matures at the very beginning of May. In 1975, no 
mature specimens were collected in the first week of May (most were penultimate), while 
in 1976, after a warm spring, approximately 80% of the spiders collected in Kalamazoo 
County were mature. Less than 8% were immature in the last week of May in 1976. Egg 
sacs are produced in May, June, and July, indicating that at least two egg sacs are made 
(Fig. 17). Habitats include a mowed field, old field, corn field, garden, gravel pit, rocky 
shore, Typha marsh, and oak forest. 
3
Wolff: Wolf Spiders of the Genus Pardosa (Araneae: Lycosidae) in
Published by ValpoScholar, 1981
66 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST Vol. 14. No. I 
P. mockenriano I 
P. modica 
FIG. 7 
FIG. 9 
saxatilii (Hentz) 1844. (Fig. 10). Mature specimens are found in late Yay. Egg sacs are 
carried in June and July, with probably two sacs produced by each female (Fig. 181. This 
s ~ e c i e s is known from corn fields, old fields, mowed field. gravel pit. f i p h marsh. and 
oak woods. 
xerampelina (Keyserling) 1876. (Fig. 1 1). Maturity is attained in May. with e a sacs collected 
in July (Fig. 19). Habitats include rocky shore, birch-maple forest. and a roadside. 
4
The Great Lakes Entomologist, Vol. 14, No. 1 [1981], Art. 12
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198 1 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST 67 
P. saxatilis 4 P. xerampelina 
FIGURE 12. Pardara dlrrinrta 
FEMALES WlTH 
FEMALES EGG SACS 
OR YOUNG 
MALES 1 
MALES 
SEPTEMBER 1-15 11 I I I I 
SEPTEMBER 16-30 11 
OCTOBER-APRIL I I 
5
Wolff: Wolf Spiders of the Genus Pardosa (Araneae: Lycosidae) in
Published by ValpoScholar, 1981
68 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST Vol. 14. No. 1 
FIGURE I V Paidora xerompe1,ns 1 FEMALES FEMALES WITH d 
EGG SACS Y L B 
SEPTEMBER 1-15 
SEPTEMBER 16-30 11 1 1 
OCTOBER-APRIL 11 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
This research is part of a thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Arts at N-estern 
Michigan University. Partial travel costs were provided through a Graduate College Grant. 
Western Michigan University. Thanks go to my wife Marcia, J. G. Engemann. C. J. G d - 
night, W. B. Harrison 111, A. R. Brady, R. L. Fischer, A. Penniman. J . L. Kasrer. and 
Southern Illinois University, for support, advice. and the loan of specimens. 
LITERATURE CITED 
Chamberlin, R. V. 1908. Revision of North American spiders of the family L>-cosidae. P~K. 
Philadelphia Acad. Nat. Sci. 60: 158-318. 
Kaston, B. J. 1948. Spiders of Connecticut. State Geol. Nat. Hist. Surv. Connecticut -0:I- 
874. 
Levi. H. W. and H. M. Field. 1954. The spiders of Wisconsin. Amer. Midl. Sat. 5I:+G-K-. 
6
The Great Lakes Entomologist, Vol. 14, No. 1 [1981], Art. 12
https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol14/iss1/12

Wolf Spiders of the Genus \u3ci\u3ePardosa\u3c/i\u3e (Araneae: Lycosidae) in Michigan

Valparaiso University

The Great Lakes Entomologist Volume 14 Number 1 - Spring 1981 Number 1 - Spring 1981 Article 12 April 1981 Wolf Spiders of the Genus Pardosa (Araneae: Lycosidae) in Michigan Robert J. Wolff Trinity Christian College Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle Part of the Entomology Commons Recommended Citation Wolff, Robert J. 1981. "Wolf Spiders of the Genus Pardosa (Araneae: Lycosidae) in Michigan," The Great Lakes Entomologist, vol 14 (1) Available at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol14/iss1/12 This Peer-Review Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Biology at ValpoScholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Great Lakes Entomologist by an authorized administrator of ValpoScholar. For more information, please contact a ValpoScholar staff member at scholar@valpo.edu. THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST WOLF SPIDERS OF THE GENUS PARDOSA (ARANEAE: LYCOSIDAE) IN MICHIGAN Robert J. ~ o l f f l ABSTRACT Distribution, life history, and habitat information is given for I I species of Pardosa which occur in Michigan. Pardosa are small wolf spiders abundant on the soil surface of fields and other more open habitats. They are a dominant member of the wandering guilds of spiders in temperate regions. Wolf spiders do not build webs, but are active hunters which wander in search of prey. Michigan distribution is mapped (Figs. 1-1 1) and life history data are presented for each species of Pardosa (Figs. 12-19). Both mature males and females were recorded. Females which were captured with an egg sac attached to the spinnerets or the young spiderlings holding on to her abdominal hairs are recorded in a separate category. For each category and time period, data for a maximum of 25 specimens are included. As specimens were taken by general collecting and pitfall trapping over all seasons, except under snow cover, the data should accurately reflect life histories. It is apparent that Pardosa have one generation a year and overwinter as immatures. Females may live for several months as adults and produce more than one egg sac. Kaston (1948) may be used for the identification of Michigan Pardosa. Levi and Field (1954) presented figures for identifying fuscula and groenlandica, and Chamberlin (1908) figured hyperborea. GENUS PARDOSA KOCH 1848 distincta (Blackwall) 1846. (Fig. 2). Maturity is reached in the second half of June, with egg sacs appearing in late June, July, August, and into September (Fig. 12). Young overwinter as immatures. Habitats include beach, shore outcrop, old field, gravel pit, pine plantation, oak woods and maple woods. fuscula (Thorell) 1872. (Fig. 3). Mature males are found from late April to early June. A female with an egg sac was collected 16 July. They have been found on a sand beach, at the edge of a pond, and in a Typlza marsh. groenlandica (Thorell) 1872. (Fig. 4). Females were collected from rocky beaches on 28 May, 24 June, 4 July, 17 August and females with egg sacs 27 June and 30 July. A male was taken 25 June. hyperborea (Thorell) 1869. A single male from a shore outcrop was taken 26 June on Isle Royale, Keweenaw County. lapidicina Emerton 1885. (Fig. 5). Found in a fir climax forest and on rocky beaches, this species matures in late August and September. Egg sacs appear throughout the summer, particularly in July (Fig. 13). l ~ i o l o g y Department, Trinity Christian College, 6601 West College Drive, Palos Heights, IL 60463 1Wolff: Wolf Spiders of the Genus Pardosa (Araneae: Lycosidae) inPublished by ValpoScholar, 198164 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST Vol. 14, No. 1 WISCONSIN - Fig. I . The counties of the Stare of Michigan mackenziana (Keyserling) 1876. (Fig. 6). Maturity is gained in May and June. Females with egg sacs have been collected in July, August, and September (Fig. 14). This species has only been taken on rocky shores. milvina (Hentz) 1844. (Fig. 7). Maturity is gained in May and June (Fig. 15). Females with egg sacs have been collected in July, August, and September. Habitats include corn and vegetable fields, old field, lawn, mud flat, and swamp. modica (Blackwall) 1846. (Fig. 8). Maturity is reached in late fall and early spring (Fig. 16). This may be the only M~ch~gan species of which some adults overwinter. Collections are from old fields, oak forests, marsh, and lake shore. 2The Great Lakes Entomologist, Vol. 14, No. 1 [1981], Art. 12https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol14/iss1/12198 1 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST 65 I G? P. groenlondico 4 P. lopidicino moesta Banks 1892. (Fig. 9). This species matures at the very beginning of May. In 1975, no mature specimens were collected in the first week of May (most were penultimate), while in 1976, after a warm spring, approximately 80% of the spiders collected in Kalamazoo County were mature. Less than 8% were immature in the last week of May in 1976. Egg sacs are produced in May, June, and July, indicating that at least two egg sacs are made (Fig. 17). Habitats include a mowed field, old field, corn field, garden, gravel pit, rocky shore, Typha marsh, and oak forest. 3Wolff: Wolf Spiders of the Genus Pardosa (Araneae: Lycosidae) inPublished by ValpoScholar, 198166 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST Vol. 14. No. I P. mockenriano I P. modica FIG. 7 FIG. 9 saxatilii (Hentz) 1844. (Fig. 10). Mature specimens are found in late Yay. Egg sacs are carried in June and July, with probably two sacs produced by each female (Fig. 181. This s ~ e c i e s is known from corn fields, old fields, mowed field. gravel pit. f i p h marsh. and oak woods. xerampelina (Keyserling) 1876. (Fig. 1 1). Maturity is attained in May. with e a sacs collected in July (Fig. 19). Habitats include rocky shore, birch-maple forest. and a roadside. 4The Great Lakes Entomologist, Vol. 14, No. 1 [1981], Art. 12https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol14/iss1/12198 1 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST 67 P. saxatilis 4 P. xerampelina FIGURE 12. Pardara dlrrinrta FEMALES WlTH FEMALES EGG SACS OR YOUNG MALES 1 MALES SEPTEMBER 1-15 11 I I I I SEPTEMBER 16-30 11 OCTOBER-APRIL I I 5Wolff: Wolf Spiders of the Genus Pardosa (Araneae: Lycosidae) inPublished by ValpoScholar, 198168 THE GREAT LAKES ENTOMOLOGIST Vol. 14. No. 1 FIGURE I V Paidora xerompe1,ns 1 FEMALES FEMALES WITH d EGG SACS Y L B SEPTEMBER 1-15 SEPTEMBER 16-30 11 1 1 OCTOBER-APRIL 11 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This research is part of a thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Arts at N-estern Michigan University. Partial travel costs were provided through a Graduate College Grant. Western Michigan University. Thanks go to my wife Marcia, J. G. Engemann. C. J. G d - night, W. B. Harrison 111, A. R. Brady, R. L. Fischer, A. Penniman. J . L. Kasrer. and Southern Illinois University, for support, advice. and the loan of specimens. LITERATURE CITED Chamberlin, R. V. 1908. Revision of North American spiders of the family L>-cosidae. P~K. Philadelphia Acad. Nat. Sci. 60: 158-318. Kaston, B. J. 1948. Spiders of Connecticut. State Geol. Nat. Hist. Surv. Connecticut -0:I- 874. Levi. H. W. and H. M. Field. 1954. The spiders of Wisconsin. Amer. Midl. Sat. 5I:+G-K-. 6The Great Lakes Entomologist, Vol. 14, No. 1 [1981], Art. 12https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol14/iss1/12

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Wolf Spiders of the Genus \u3ci\u3ePardosa\u3c/i\u3e (Araneae: Lycosidae) in Michigan

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