There are many kinds of spiders that build funnel-shaped webs, but there is only one kind of wolf spider (Lycosidae) that is known to exhibit such behavior, the genus Sosippus. In fact, it is the only wolf spider that builds a web at all. In Arizona, our local species is Sosippus californicus. These wolf spiders are medium-sized, with bold markings on the cephalothorax and abdomen. Last week, when I took a walk along the Shantz Trail at SNPE, their funnel-lined burrows were easily recognizable. S. californicus seems to prefer to set up its web at the edges of dry washes, utilizing old burrows and other pre-existing nooks and crannies.
If you’re lucky, you can coax them out of their burrows by tickling the web with a thin piece of plant matter (please don’t use your finger). The one photographed above actually didn’t need to be tricked to make an appearance — it came out on its own and was a very considerate subject for the camera. These spiders move extremely fast, and seem to have a good sense of sight. They know right away when they’ve been fooled, and will usually retreat almost instantly.
Unlike the Carolina wolf spider, which is really only active at night, this species is easily observed in the daytime. Look for their funnel-shaped webs along dry washes and at the base of vegetation — anywhere they have a bit of shelter and protection.
Bug Talk 