Hogna lenta
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Hogna lenta | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Lycosidae |
| Genus: | Hogna |
| Species: | H. lenta |
| Binomial name | |
| Hogna lenta (Hentz, 1844) | |
Hogna lenta is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae.[1][2] It is native to the Southeast US, particularly Florida.[2][3][4]
Hogna lenta primarily eat small insects, such as crickets, waxworms, and mealworms. If the preferred prey is not available, they will eat beetles. Newly emerged from the egg sac, they can eat small fruit flies. The species is a ground spider, which burrows in the dirt and use vibrations to sense if a prey has come to the mouth of the burrow. They have a neurotoxin which can be injected ito prey through the fangs. It paralyzes the prey while the spider drinks the hemolymph from the insect.
Natural defenses
Hogna lenta is naturally equipped with a venom powerful enough to paralyze a small insect. This venom poses no threat to a healthy adult human, often reported to feel like a bee sting. They generally raise their front legs in the air when threatened, to look bigger. If this does not work, they will lunge right in front of their attacker to startle them. Their last defense is biting the attacker. Due to their sheer size, most animals would not try to attack them. Their diameter is about the same as a 50-cent coin.
