Wolf Spider Identification Update

Sue Ann (Suna) KendallLeave a comment

by Eric Neubauer

[Note: our most popular article on this site is Wolf Spider Identification. This article provides a brief update, plus links to Eric Neubauer’s recent presentation at the 2024 Texas Master Naturalist Annual Meeting.]

This material serves as an introduction to a new wolf spider species that is quite common in Texas and Oklahoma. It is also known in nine other states as far away as North Carolina. There is sufficient information to identify both juveniles and adults in the field as well as learn something about its life cycle. This is a departure from tradition in that a tremendous amount of information is made available to the public before publication in a scientific journal and formal acceptance of the species name.

Hogna incognita

Links to slides and explanatory text in lieu of a speaker follow:

Hogna_incognita_slides_103124Download
Hogna_incognita_text_103124Download

I hope the average amateur naturalist and even professional arachnologist will find this more user friendly than the typical scientific paper.

I’m now waiting to see if any adult females make it into November. There were some with babies out there just a week ago. They outlasted my last Argiope aurantia. Someone needs to compose an “End of the Season Blues.”

Not to worry, some other wolf spider species are nearing maturity including the other undescribed Hogna west of the Edwards Plateau and another unknown I saw three adult males of last winter. I don’t want to say it’s an undescribed species until I see some adult females and do a thorough search of the possibilities. Exciting times!

Hogna incognita postscript

There’s always more to know about a species. Based on last year’s observations, adult females last though October. As the class of 2024 dwindled, it looked like some might make it into November in parts of Texas and Oklahoma. I held my breath and went out with my headlamp on as soon as the sun set on November 1st. I found one fairly quickly in the stubble of the hay field out back. She was away from her burrow and I caught her easily.

Juvenile
Spiderlings attached

About a third of her family had already dispersed. Another half dozen or so decided to go off on their own while I did the photography. I collected her and the spiderlings that had disembarked and released them on higher ground next to a crack in the soil for cover if they needed it, and just in case of heavy rain.

More on Eric’s Research

The November 2024 isue of Texas Coop Power magazine features an article on Eric and “his” spider: A Wolf Spider Misidentified for 120 Years Gets Its Due, by Sheryl Smith-Rodgers. Check it out!

Members Recruit at Milam Senior TRIAD

Sue Ann (Suna) KendallLeave a comment

by Carolyn Henderson and Michelle Lopez

From Carolyn: Alan Rudd, Patricia Coombs, Debra Sorenson, Catherine Johnson, Jackie Thornton, and Michelle Lopez staffed an El Camino Real Texas Master Naturalist table at the annual Milam County Senior TRIAD on Tuesday, October 29. They informed visitors about the program and recruited some possible students for the upcoming class. 

From Michelle: We had a great time at the Senior Expo in Cameron today. We have three or four possible students for the next class and we were able to speak to a lot of people about nature and found that there were people who love wildlife and had never heard of Texas Master Naturalist. We were able to share the things that we are passionate about and gave out a lot of information and directed people to our website for more information. We invited people to our monthly meetings and let them know they were free of charge and there is a potluck before the meeting and we seemed to have a lot of interest in that also. 

A Summer’s Day in Late October

Sue Ann (Suna) KendallLeave a comment

by Donna Lewis

Yesterday ( 10-23-2024) , I went outside to be with nature and take a few photos. It’s so hot I thought it was a summer’s day.

I took photos of some Goldenrod, a favorite of some butterflies, including the Monarch.

Next was an Armadillo, which should have been laid up somewhere in the shade.

Then there was a Black Water Snake near a bird feeder. They are non-venomous.

And last one of my bird baths with lots of native honey bees getting water for their family.

I also saw, but was not fast enough to take photos of, an American Kestrel, A Ruby-throated Hummingbird, and a single Monarch butterfly.

All in a one hour period in the morning here in Central Texas. We are so lucky to see these things.

Let us hope that all of us humans keep them safe for the next generation to enjoy.

Little Free Seed Library News

Sue Ann (Suna) Kendall2 Comments

by Catherine Johnson

Saturday , the Little Free Seed Library group met at Milam Wildscape to discuss the new project and collect seeds. Coordinator Linda Burgess gave updates and Jackie Thornton and Ann Collins collected seeds including Turks Cap, Coneflower, Texas Rock Rose, and Button Bush. We enjoyed the cooler weather.

Ann finding goodies to share with others

We also discussed how the Wildscape, Wild Wings Bird Sanctuary, and Little Free Seed Library projects are going to benefit the community in our outreach efforts. 

Jackie finding seeds for sharing

Construction of user-friendly pathways and permanent weed control continues at the Wildscape. A recently installed water feature for birds and pollinators is the top of a pedestal sink from Facebook Marketplace.

Sink for the birds/
Autumn beauty
Linda harvests seeds
Jackie in the jungle