Lycosa tarantula (Linnaeus, 1758)
Males Body length: up to 20mm, Females up to 30mm.
Lycosa tarantula was the original species known as the “Tarantula” It is now called the “Tarantula Wolf Spider”
Tarantula now a days is more associated to the “Theraphosidae” an entirely different family of spiders.
Lycosa tarantula as the name implies is a large species found in southern Europe around the Mediterranean coastal regions, particularly in the Apulia region of Italy and close to the city of Taranto; from where the name originates.
In the past, superstition (Italian folklore) has it if bitten by this spider the person would produce severe symptoms called “Tarantism”! The treatment for healing purposes after being bitten by this spider, was to do a special dance known as the “Tarantula Dance” Although the bite can be quite painful it is not known to cause severe symptoms in humans. (Although the bite can cause shaking, cold sweats and high fever)
The Tarantula wolf spider has four pairs of eyes which makes them very observant on everything going on around them, which it uses to its full advantage to attack prey or retreat within their burrows
L. tarantula are a nocturnal species, most females never venture far from their burrows and can live up to four years. The males tend to be constantly on the move, as they search for a female and can live up to two years. Although his life could be cut drastically shorter, as it is a known practice for the female to cannibalise him after mating! It is estimated about a third of the mating’s the male will be eaten. The female will carry her young on her back for about a week, obviously giving them extra protection in the early days of their lives; until they are sufficiently mature to survive on their own. When the time arrives, the young spiders will disperse and will dig or find burrows of their own.
Habitat: Warm, dry and stony land with sparse vegetation.
L. tarantula, has very good eye sight like all wolf spiders with strong hairy legs which enables it to overpower its prey by chasing and pouncing on it. A Similar hunting method in which wolves use, so understandably being called “Wolf Spider”. This spider mainly feeds on small insects but sometimes will take lager prey like Beetles.
During the winter, L. tarantula hibernate in their burrows.
Approximately 240 species occur in Europe.
Images below are of two different females, luckily for me the female looking from her burrow was very tolerant with my macro lense just a few inches away!