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