Can Wolf Spiders Swim?

Some wolf spider species can swim in the water because they are adapted to their habitat and can swim underwater and can survive in the water for up to 40 hours.

Most wolf spiders have a respiratory system. They need air to survive, so they cannot survive underwater, but some can still swim above the water.

Wolf spiders that live in moist and watery areas are more capable of swimming than other wolf spiders. They have adapted their respiratory system in such a way that it allows them to stay underwater without breathing for up to 40 hours, as they enter a deep coma that allows them to survive.

Can Wolf Spiders Swim?

Wolf spiders can swim, as they can adapt to their surroundings. However, they can’t survive in the water for more than a few hours.

Many pool owners face the problem of having wolf spiders inside their pools. It can be a frightening sight to see a wolf spider in your pool, especially if you see that it can swim.

Luckily, wolf spiders don’t like to get in these situations as they are primarily made to live on land.

Wolf spiders are not primarily designed to live or survive in the water, and they have no reason to be there. They will hunt ground-dwelling insects and smaller animals, so going in the water doesn’t make sense to them. They also need air to survive because they have a respiratory system that requires oxygen.

Wolf spider species that live in moist areas with a lot of water are particularly good swimmers. They can swim thanks to the small adaptations in their bodies. These spiders have learned to swim well because their habitat is often flooded, so they need to swim around to survive.

There have even been studies that confirm some wolf spiders can survive underwater for up to 40 hours. To do that, the wolf spider will enter a coma where it will not require oxygen or air to survive.

But after 40 hours is over, the wolf spider will need to get air again, or else it will perish.

Read More: Can Other Spiders Swim?

Can Wolf Spiders Survive in Water?

Yes, some wolf spiders can survive in water. A good example of that is a wolf spider species called Arctosa fulvolineata, which can survive underwater for up to 40 hours.

A scientist named Julien Petillon tried to submerge this species underwater to see how long it can survive (if it even could). The spider species, which is also called the salt marsh-dwelling wolf spider, has shown a good ability to survive underwater despite not being primarily a water-based spider.

This spider can make some interesting adaptations to its body while it is submerged underwater. 

Its metabolism will switch from aerobic to anaerobic, which means its body will not require oxygen to function properly. The spider will enter a period of coma, which allows it to survive underwater for a longer period. When this happens, the spider will appear as though it is dead, but it is still alive.

Petillon, who conducted this experimented, was surprised when he saw that his wolf spider was still showing movement after almost 40 hours of being submerged in the water. The spider’s body woke up when the metabolism gave up, which was the right time for the spider to come out of the water.

Even though this interesting experiment shows us that some wolf spiders can survive underwater, it is also clear that this is not typical for all wolf spider species; instead, it is most likely limited only to wolf spider species that live in more aquatic habitats, such as the saltmarsh-dwelling wolf spider.

Spiders are cold-blooded, which means they need to regulate their body temperatures using their environments.

Related Article: Do Wolf Spiders Bite Dogs and Cats?

Why Do Wolf Spiders Get Stuck in Pools?

Wolf spiders might come into your pool because it is looking for prey, and it might follow the prey into the pool or the water.

Wolf spiders often find their way in people’s homes and their belongings when they are looking for their prey. They’re known to be stalkers, so they will usually follow their prey as it moves around.

And since we know that some insects like to dwell around waters and areas like pools, wolf spiders sometimes find themselves inside your pool.

If you own a pool, you might have already found a wolf spider (or another spider) stuck inside your pool. This is not something unusual, because spiders find themselves in this situation often.

You might also see that the spider is capable of swimming. If it is a wolf spider, then it is highly likely that it will still swim around, because most wolf spiders can swim.

So, what to do if this happens in your pool?

The best thing to do in this case is to safely remove the wolf spider from your pool. But don’t do it using your hands because the wolf spider can bite you!

Remember, the wolf spider can only survive in the water for so long before it dies, so you’re doing both the spider and yourself a favor when you decide to remove it from the pool.

Related Article: Do Wolf Spiders Make Webs?

Conclusion

Wolf spiders can swim – some better than others. Wolf spiders that live in aquatic habitats are better swimmers than other spiders that don’t live in these areas. They have adaptations in their body and their metabolism that allow them to swim and survive underwater. Wolf spiders often get stuck inside pools and other types of water as they pursue their prey. This means that they have to know how to swim, or else they wouldn’t be able to hunt their prey.