Post on 01-Jan-2016
Wolf Spider and Eastern HophornbeamBy: Evan Rickert
&
Bree VanReenen
Wolf Spider
-Phylym: Arthrodopa
-Class: Arachnida
-Order: Araneae
-Family: Lycosidae
-Genus: Hogna
-Species: aspersa
Taxonomy: Wolf Spider (scientific name: Hogna aspersa)
Description: Appearance
Range from about 1/2 inch to 2 inches in length
Hairy
Brown to gray in color
various markings or lines
Long legs
Four large eyes
below are four smaller ones
Description: Habitat
Common household pest in the fall
Ground habitats:
stream edges, gravel or sand bars
low vegetation and woodland leaf litter
Dig burrows or tunnel
some have no home at all
Prefer moist habitats or places near water
Hunting
Does not spin web, hunts prey
Ground-dwelling insects and other spiders
Excellent vision (includes night vision) and running capabilities
Climb short distances up tree trunks
Life Cycle Female wolf spider attaches small egg sac to her
spinnerets
Carries on back
Show aggressive behavior due to protection
Spiderlings emerge from the casing
climb onto her abdomen and remain there for up to two weeks or more
Some survive for nearly two years
Ecosystem Connections
Predators : of insects and other small creatures
Prey: for small lizards, insectivorous mice, shrews, turkeys and many other birds.
Human Connections
Consume many insects that are pests to humans
Bites of North American wolf spiders are harmless
Researchers are keenly interested in the parenting behavior of wolf spiders.
Eastern Hophornbeam
Taxonomy:
Scientific name – Ostrya virginiana
Family – Betulaceae
Species
Plantae +
Tracheophyta +
Magnoliopsida +
Fagales +
Betulaceae +
Ostrya +
Ostrya virginiana (Mill.) K. Koch
Description
Size Height 20’ – 30’ Diameter 1’ – 2’
Fruit Characteristics Single winged and elongated Nut in papery, bladder-like sac
Bark and wood Strong hard wood
Durable
Description(continued)
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, broad, flat leaves
Fine, double teeth
Symmetrical and not wedge-shaped base
Leaf longer, oval
3times as long as is wide and narrows toward the tip
Description – Habitat
Soils- wet, dry or in between
Location – generally beneath other taller trees in hardwood forests
Grows through Eastern US and some states west of Mississippi River
Ecosystem connections
Life span 100-150 years
Seeds – eaten by birds
Bark, wood and twigs – eaten by rodents, rabbits, fox, and deer
Human Connections
Attractive leaves in fall and summer
Strong hard wood – used to make golf clubs, handles, fuels, cogs, levers and many more tools.
Sources https://www.google.com/search?q=wolf+spider&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=QhxsUt6
ODsWw4AOUkYCgDg&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1778&bih=861#imgdii=_
http://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.asp?identification=Wolf-Spider
http://entoplp.okstate.edu/ddd/insects/wolfspider.htm
http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/wolf-spiders
https://www.google.com/search?q=wolf+spider&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=QhxsUt6ODsWw4AOUkYCgDg&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1778&bih=861#q=wolf+spider+hunting&tbm=isch&imgdii=_
https://www.google.com/search?q=wolf+spider&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=QhxsUt6ODsWw4AOUkYCgDg&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1778&bih=861#q=wolf+spider+habitat&tbm=isch&imgdii=_
https://www.google.com/search?q=wolf+spider+bites&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=VCdsUsjcBcSTkQfD-YGIAQ&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=2000&bih=969#imgdii=_
https://www.google.com/search?q=wolf+spider+bites&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=VCdsUsjcBcSTkQfD
YGIAQ&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=2000&bih=969#q=wolf+spider+carrying+babies&tbm=isch&imgdii=_
Hop hornbeam sources
http://www.oplin.org/tree/fact%20pages/hophornbeam_eastern/hophornbeam_eastern.html
http://www.fs.fed.us/ne/delaware/atlas/lh701.htm
http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/american-hornbeam-musclewood