Arctosa sp. (C. L. Koch, 1847)
Scientific name: Arctosa sp. (C. L. Koch, 1847)
Common name:
French name:
Order: Araneae
Family: Lycosidae
Size: 4,5 to 16mm (without the legs).
Biotope: Most species live in sandy places on sea shores or lake and river banks.
Web: No web. Some species deposit their eggs in a burrow lined with silk.
Observation period:
Geographic area: Worldwide except Australia and Antarctica.
Spiders of the Lycosidae family do not spin webs. They hunt by running and jumping on their preys.
You can usually observe them on the ground or on low vegetation (generally on the ground for members of the Arctosa genus).
You can recognize them with their big hind eyes looking forward.
Spiders of the Arctosa genus do not show any well contrasted lateral band on the cephalothorax. This last one bears light-coloured patches in particular at the back of the hind eyes. The back of the cephalothorax is often a darker colour.
I have found 14 species listed as present in France and whose identification, for most of them, requires a close exam of the genitalia. These are: Arctosa alpigena, Arctosa cinerea, Arctosa figurata, Arctosa fulvolineata, Arctosa lacustris, Arctosa leopardus, Arctosa lutetiana, Arctosa maculata, Arctosa perita, Arctosa personata, Arctosa similis, Arctosa stigmosa, Arctosa variana, Arctosa villica.

Arctosa sp. - Saône-et-Loire, France - September 19th 2012
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Arctosa sp.
I have observed this spider on the bank of the Doubs river, at a few meter from water, on a ground made of a mix of gravels and sand.
The observation place and the general look, in particular the colour of the cephalothorax, easily indicate the Arctosa genus.


Arctosa sp. - Saône-et-Loire, France - September 19th 2012
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Arctosa sp.
Unfortunately I have nor measured the body size of this spider. A large size of about 15mm would have pointed to the Arctosa cinerea species, however I do not remember having noticed a large wolf spider. So we will stay at Arctosa sp.


Arctosa sp. - Saône-et-Loire, France - September 19th 2012
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Arctosa sp.
I wonder how this spider behaves during the large fluctuations of the water level in spring. You need to move more than 500 meters away to put your legs on the ground.


Arctosa sp. - Saône-et-Loire, France - September 19th 2012
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Arctosa sp.
Isn't it a beautiful life, resting on this gravel bed?

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