Funnel-web Wolf Spider ♀
Sosippus californicus
Observed at Peña Blanca Canyon, Sta. Cruz Co., Arizona, USA. 28 July 2013.
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The majority of wolf spider species hunt prey without the benefit of a silken snare. But Sosippus spins a silken sheet extending from a tube hidden in a crevice. This one has a group of small offspring inhabiting the web with her. They may share big prey or else take the smallest bugs. They stay in their mother's web for some weeks until they can venture out and build their own.
Funnel Wolf Spiders might be confused with the more common and widespread funnel web spiders, Agelenidae. However, like all wolf spiders, Sosippus has three rows of eyes two of which are noticeably very large. Agelenidae have eight small eyes in two rows.
Lycosidae -- Wolf Spider Family
More Information:
- Bugguide Iowa State University
- Wikipedia
- Encyclopedia of Life
- Google Images
- Google Scholar Literature Search