# Carolina Wolf Spider - behavior question **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 27, 2025, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carolina-wolf-spider-behavior-question/1026109 "2025-12-27T21:50:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2025, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carolina-wolf-spider-behavior-question/1026109/1 "2025-12-27T21:50:57Z")
So, I’m dealing with an overly friendly wolf spider. She is huge, would almost fill my palm if you include the legs. Body length a little over an inch, I guess, and very chonky. She is constantly trying to cozy up to me at night. To the point that I’m now having dreams that she’s one of my dogs reincarnated. She will just sort of lay alongside my arm on on the chair, or beside my leg. Or I’ll go to move and find her darting from between the folds of the blanket. Once she grabbed the end of my pinkie finger with her pincers. Not a bite, not even a pinch, more like a curious touch. But of course I freaked out because it’s not fear of pain that I’m dealing with here. I confess I was surprised I didn’t wake the whole house up that night! Does anybody know bout spiders or have a guess as to what this behavior is about? There is probably less prey for her than usual now, but there are still enough silverfish around that she needn’t resort to trying an animal 10,000 times her size. What is she up to? Why won’t she leave me in peace? (good jokes also appreciated, as I need to keep a sense of humor about this.) ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2025, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carolina-wolf-spider-behavior-question/1026109/2 "2025-12-27T21:53:19Z")
[She looks exactly like this one.](https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/carolina-wolf-spider/) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2025, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carolina-wolf-spider-behavior-question/1026109/3 "2025-12-27T21:57:21Z")
Looking for a place to hibernate? > **[Hogna carolinensis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hogna_carolinensis)** > > Hogna carolinensis, commonly-known as the Carolina wolf spider and giant wolf spider, is found across North America. It is the largest of the wolf spiders in North America, typically measuring at 18-20mm for males and 22-35mm for females. > The Carolina wolf spider is mottled brown with a dark underside. Males have orange coloration on their sides. They live in either self-made burrows or ones they find. Like all wolf spiders, H. carolinensis does not make a web to catch prey. They hunt by ambus... ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2025, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carolina-wolf-spider-behavior-question/1026109/4 "2025-12-27T21:59:23Z")
A lot of people keep jumping spiders as pets and of course tarantulas are fairly popular. The big spiders seem to be fairly intelligent and the jumping spiders can be trained to jump onto a finger, I’ve seen quite a few videos. I’d guess this spider of yours likes it that you’re warm and smell like dinner. I would ask about your hygiene habits, though, since if you’re drawing flies it might explain her attraction. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2025, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carolina-wolf-spider-behavior-question/1026109/5 "2025-12-27T22:20:50Z")
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa 😱 ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2025, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carolina-wolf-spider-behavior-question/1026109/6 "2025-12-27T23:00:19Z")
I don’t think beetles are one of their typical prey species. So no need to worry. 😁 ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2025, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carolina-wolf-spider-behavior-question/1026109/7 "2025-12-28T00:19:12Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > I would ask about your hygiene habits, though, since if you’re drawing flies it might explain her attraction. 🤪 It depends on the week. . . > [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa 😱 Well, I know she likes carpet beetles. . . best not visit for a day or two. > [@SmartAleq](#): > > A lot of people keep jumping spiders as pets I literally screamed “You are not a PET!!” at it the other night. Like, seriously, leave me alone! Hence the nightmares. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2025, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carolina-wolf-spider-behavior-question/1026109/8 "2025-12-28T00:41:49Z")
Maybe she’s a hyper-intelligent pan-dimensional being who needs your help. Or your brain. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2025, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carolina-wolf-spider-behavior-question/1026109/9 "2025-12-28T00:44:48Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Once she grabbed the end of my pinkie finger with her pincers. Have you noticed your hands unexpectedly sticking to things since then? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2025, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carolina-wolf-spider-behavior-question/1026109/10 "2025-12-28T00:46:01Z")
Me too @Dung_Beetle Me too. Nope. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2025, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carolina-wolf-spider-behavior-question/1026109/11 "2025-12-28T01:10:50Z")
Have you developed any superpowers since the polite nibble? ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2025, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carolina-wolf-spider-behavior-question/1026109/12 "2025-12-28T01:57:25Z")
I’m jealous; Ms. P and I love spiders. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2025, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carolina-wolf-spider-behavior-question/1026109/13 "2025-12-28T03:08:01Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > Have you noticed your hands unexpectedly sticking to things since then? Sadly, no. It would sure make changing certain light bulbs a whole lot easier. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2025, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carolina-wolf-spider-behavior-question/1026109/14 "2025-12-28T03:35:20Z")
Aren’t wolf spiders the ones who pack about 5000 eggs on their backs and they explode 5000 babies at you if you touch. OM freakin’ God! 🫪 ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2025, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carolina-wolf-spider-behavior-question/1026109/15 "2025-12-28T03:44:50Z")
Well, close. Not 5000, and they keep the silk packet with the eggs in their front pincers until it’s time to hatch. Then the babies ride around on her back until their little yolk sacs run out and they start looking at each other like dinner. She’s a good Mommy, she just doesn’t tolerate the sibling rivalry. Oh lort, look at me defending her honor. Maybe Stockholm syndrome is real after all? ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2025, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carolina-wolf-spider-behavior-question/1026109/16 "2025-12-28T06:08:15Z")
Maybe just…embrace the concept? Go get a nice terrarium, fit it out properly, cotch your new pet spider gently and lay in a supply of small roaches or crickets or whatever. When babies hatch take terrarium outside into presumably better weather conditions than midwinter and let them all go free to annoy other people. It’s very Charlotte’s Web! ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2025, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carolina-wolf-spider-behavior-question/1026109/17 "2025-12-28T07:16:11Z")
Your link to the picture in the second post has 62 hits (63 now) in 9 hours. Might be a modern day Dope record. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2025, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carolina-wolf-spider-behavior-question/1026109/18 "2025-12-30T00:07:07Z")
I actually have a 100 gal aquarium sitting around doing nothing. But she needs to be out to do her job. If I didn’t need her to take care of the silver fish and carpet beetles, then she wouldn’t be living here any more. To be clear, there is no current sign of babies (or a mate), for which I am enormously grateful. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2025, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carolina-wolf-spider-behavior-question/1026109/19 "2025-12-30T02:30:11Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > To be clear, there is no current sign of babies (or a mate), for which I am enormously grateful. That’s because they’re all RIGHT BEHIND YOU. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2025, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carolina-wolf-spider-behavior-question/1026109/20 "2025-12-30T02:36:44Z")
Or living in your hair. I think @Burpo\_the\_wondermutt said on these boards “one in the hand is 1000 in the hair” (paraphrased) That’s when the one living on my porch got stepped on. Accidentally, of course. Oops. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carolina-wolf-spider-behavior-question/1026109.md?page=2)