Pond wolf spider | Pardosa pseudoannulata

Pardosa pseudoannulata (Bösenberg & Strand, 1906) (Family: Lycosidae)
Common name: Pond wolf spider
Size: Female 8-10 mm, Male 6-8 mm
Distribution: India, Pakistan to Japan, Philippines, Java

Description: Cephalothorax longer than wide, convex, clothed with fine hairs; cephalic region slightly high and narrowing in front, middle portion with conspicuous broad longitudinal deep brown patches. Centre of cephalothorax with a short fovea surrounded by light midlongitudinal band, lateral margins also with deepbrown longitudinal borders. Ocular area black and hairy. Anterior row of eyes straight and slightly shorter than the middle row. Anterior medians slightly larger than the anterior laterals. Eyes of the second row larger than the others. Ocular quad wider than long. Space enclosed between posterior eyes wider than long and narrowing in front. Sternum nearly oval, pointed behind, pale and clothed with spine-like hairs. Labium as long as wide, basal excavation prominent. Maxillae broader in front, anterior endwith inconspicuous scopulae. Chelicerae moderately strong, inner margin of furrow with three teeth and outer margin with two teeth. Legs moderately strong, clothed with spines and hairs, with inconspicuous transverse greenish brown patches. Tibiae I with three pairs of ventral spines. Abdomen longer than wide, clothed with fine hairs and decorated with minute light spots all over the dorsal side. Ventrum pale.

Male


Female with spiderlings


Female

Natural History: Very common in paddy fields, sometimes with cocoon attached to spinnerets. Spiderlings carried on the body of mother.

Contributed By : Sudhikumar A.V.