Spiders of North Carolina

Order:
Scientific Name: Common Name:		Family (Alpha):

View	LYCOSIDAE Members:	NC Records
Geolycosa pikei (Marx, 1881) - a burrowing wolf spider

Burrow

Female in burrow

Female

Male

Female tending turret

Taxonomy

Order: ARANEAE

Infraorder: ARANEOMORPHAE

Family: LYCOSIDAE

Identification

Online Description/Photos:	BugGuide Google, iNaturalist, Wikipedia, GBIF
Comments: Male: dorsal stripe as wide as posterior eye quadrangle behind the posterior lateral eyes, narrows to the cervical groove and is indistinct from there posteriorly; carapace covered with gray pubescence where it has not been rubbed. Carapace longer than wide (7.4 mm./5.3 mm).behind. Venter slightly dusky, almost unmarked; patellae and tibiae I and II quite dark beneath, almost black; femora I and II somewhat lighter than tibia I; coxae I and II, sternum, labium, endites, and metatarsi I and II. Female: and indistinct from darker than dorsal stripe. dark markings. Venter dusky distal three-fourths of metatarsus than tibia I; coxae

Distribution in North Carolina

Comments: Atlantic coast from Maine to Georgia, and adjacent islands.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.


Adult phenology: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Coastal sand dunes, but also away from coast.
Observation Methods:
Abundance/Frequency: Uncommon. Matures in August and September, both sexes pass the winter half grown and do not mature until late and the fertilized females live over a second winter and lay eggs in May and June. Young remain a long time with the mother, in one case as late as September.
Silk / Web: Silk used to make a lip around burrow or to attach turret material. Female uses silk to make an egg case.
Behavior: Builds a small silky sand lip, or shell/debris "turret" at top to their burrows, smaller turrets than others in the genus.

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: [GNR] S3S4

State Protection:

Comments:

Geolycosa pikei (Marx, 1881) - a burrowing wolf spider

Photo Gallery for Geolycosa pikei - a burrowing wolf spider

90 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

Photo Gallery for Geolycosa pikei - a burrowing wolf spider		90 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-06-10 Richmond Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-06-10 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-06-10 Richmond Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-06-10 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-06-04 Currituck Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-06-04 Currituck Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-06-04 Currituck Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-06-04 Currituck Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-06-04 Currituck Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-06-04 Currituck Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-06-04 Currituck Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-06-03 Currituck Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-06-02 Currituck Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-04-19 New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-04-19 New Hanover Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2025-04-19 New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Guy McGrane on 2025-04-09 Columbus Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Guy McGrane on 2025-04-09 Columbus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-11-05 Hoke Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2024-01-24 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2023-10-19 Dare Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2023-10-19 Dare Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2023-09-20 Dare Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2023-01-12 Currituck Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-10-08 Carteret Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2022-03-22 New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2022-03-22 New Hanover Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2022-03-22 New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn on 2022-03-21 New Hanover Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Brian Bockhahn, N. Williamson, B. Hartness, Z. Lunn on 2021-10-26 Moore Co. Comment: