About Trochosa ruricola (De Geer, 1778)
Trochosa ruricola, commonly known as the rustic wolf spider, is a species of wolf spider first described by De Geer in 1778. Females of this species typically measure 15 mm (0.6 in) in body length, and can grow as large as 25 mm (1.0 in), while males reach an average body length of 10 mm (0.4 in). Both sexes have a dark brown base color, with a pale band that extends from the carapace down to the abdomen. This spider hunts on the ground, and is frequently captured in pitfall traps. Females carry their egg sac attached to their abdomen for approximately 3 weeks; once the spiderlings hatch, they gather on their mother's back. The species inhabits grassland, woodland, scrub, and lawn areas across temperate regions of Asia, Europe, and North America. Its native distribution ranges from Europe eastward to China, Japan, and Korea; it has been introduced to North America, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Bermuda.
