The false wolf spider is spotted more and more often in the Netherlands. The pests were first seen in 2007 but are gaining more ground every year. This is partly due to the fact that the Dutch winters are no longer so cold. The males grow to between 10 and 13 mm, while the females can grow between 10 and 19 mm. With outstretched legs, the animal can grow up to 5 cm! It can therefore be a bit of a shock when the false wolf spider looks at you from the corner of the room. The false wolf spider (Zoropsis spinimana) is a species of spider in the Zoropsidae family. The term ‘false’ is not because the creature is false, but because they resemble ‘real’ wolf spiders (Lycosidae family).
Can a false wolf spider bite?
What is less fun about the false wolf spider is that they can bite. The bite usually does little harm, but the consequences of a bite can be different, as they depend, for example, on the sensitivity of the victim. The bite can be more severe when you are in weaker health. In addition, the consequences are also different due to the amount of poison that can be introduced. Basically, all spiders are poisonous, because they need poison to digest their food. Fortunately, the poison is relatively weak and harmless in almost all cases. The complications of a bite are therefore usually nil. If you are bitten by this spider, you can compare this to a wasp or bee sting in terms of pain. Curious about more information about the false wolf spider? Pest control service Van der Velden explains!
Where does the false wolf spider come from?
Originally, the false wolf spider comes from southern Europe, but due to climate change and colder winters, these spiders are now also able to survive better and better in the Netherlands. In most cases, they end up in the Netherlands by means of transport. Think of trucks or holidaymakers who drive back to the Netherlands from Spain and Italy. Somewhere along the way, the critters drop and look for a place to settle down.
How do you recognize a false wolf spider?
You can recognize the creature by the following points:
- It’s a pretty big spider (bad news for people with arachnophobia)
- The spider is yellow, gray, and brown in color
- The abdomen has a black spot, as can be seen in the photo
- The spider has ringed legs
- Don’t create a web
Where can you encounter this spider?
In the house, false wolf spiders like to hide in warm, dark, and narrow places where insects also come. Think of cracks in walls, corners of the ceiling, air vents, and behind items or furniture. In addition, moisture problems and leaks can be a cause. Outdoors, spiders make their webs in the garden, near the garden lights, under the gutter, or in the shed. When there is a false wolf spider indoors, you can assume for 99% that it is not a real wolf spider, because they are (almost) never found in the house.
What is the insect’s way of life?
A false wolf spider is an animal that, like other insects, is mainly active at night. The false wolf spider does not make a web to grab insects like a cross spider, but hunts on the ground. Even other spiders such as a house spider are on the menu. During the day, the animal hides in the house, under stones, or tree bark. Since they cannot survive in a harsh climate, the animal often takes refuge in homes. The spider is often found in homes where the temperature is more constant and there is more food to be found.
Preventive control of the false wolf spider
When you see the animal, it is advisable not to kill it, but to bring it outside in, for example, a glass with a cardboard underneath. You can also choose to fight the false wolf spider preventively. Then it is advisable to start the first treatment in the spring. In general, there is little nuisance from spiders during the summer months, so no additional treatment is usually needed here. We then repeat the treatment in the autumn, so that they cannot lay eggs in your home. In this way, spiders can be controlled preventively. This is especially effective for homes or buildings on the water.
- Call us back directly on 085 – 029 760 or contact us directly
- Receive a tailor-made quote and make an appointment right away
- An appointment within 24 hours
- We will help you get rid of the pest quickly
What does it cost to control the false wolf spider?
Do you want to know what it costs to fight the false wolf spider at home through us? Or do you want to hire us for other pest control? Please contact us. Treatment usually depends on the size of the room where they sit and the severity of the infestation. Let us make a quote in advance, so you know where you stand. In any case, we do not charge call-out costs for our work. Please note that we do not fight the false wolf spider throughout the Netherlands! We do this in Amsterdam, Amstelveen, Almere, Haarlem, IJmuiden, Hoofddorp, Uithoorn, Utrecht, ‘t Gooi, Hilversum, Baarn, Soest, Woerden, Alphen aan den Rijn, Leiden, Gouda, The Hague, Zoetermeer, Delft and the surrounding area!
