What is a Carolina wolf spider?

The Carolina wolf spider is one of the largest of more than 2,000 wolf spider species worldwide and the largest wolf spider in North America. The terrestrial arachnid is found throughout the United States and southern Canada.

The 3- to 4-inch spider bears a grey to brown body with a dark center stripe along the abdomen and long, hairy legs. Like other wolf spiders, the species has eight eyes arranged in three rows, with four in the bottom and two each in the middle and top rows. Wolf spiders get their name from their tendency to run down prey instead of using a web as a trap.