24mm adult female Zoropsis spinimana, found in a residential house in Southwark, SE London, 24th March 2025.
False Wolf Spider / Mediterranean Spiny False Wolf Spider / Mediterranean House Spider - (Zoropsis spinimana)
The False Wolf Spider is a recently introduced species to the UK. It was first discovered to be established in the UK in garages in SW London back in 2012. There was also a record of one specimen found in 2008. The False Wolf Spider originated from its native Mediterranean countries including Italy, Spain and parts of northern Africa. Around the same time that it appeared in the UK it was also starting to appear in other European countries including France, Germany and Switzerland. It began turning up in North America slightly earlier, with records in California first being noted as early as 1992. This species was accepted as being established in San Francisco in 1995. - LINK LINK 2
Zoropsis spinimana spreads at an astonishing rate. In Switzerland, following the first record of Zoropsis spinimana, this spider had spread to almost every city in the country in less than 20 years. - LINK
In the UK most records come from north London, where the species is widely established, but as of 2025 records are now becoming increasingly common from across much of England as Zoropsis spinimana continues to spread further north both in Britain and other parts of the world. - LINK
Zoropsis spinimana does not build a web to catch its prey, neither does it use any silk to wrap or subdue its prey either. Instead this spider actively seeks out and slowly stalks other invertebrates to prey upon, and uses its size and strength to overpower its victims. The forelegs of Zoropsis spinimana are equipped with numerous robust, erectile leg-spines. These leg-spines usually point in the roughly the same direction as the limb they are attached to, but the erectile leg-spines can be rapidly erect at an angle of around 90 degrees to the legs in an instant. Spiders use a hydraulic system to operate their limbs, and rely on a fluid called hemolymph to extend their legs, as they completely lack muscles that can directly extend or contract their limbs. An increase in pressure of the hemolymph enables the leg-spines to rapidly become erect. These robust erectile leg-spines are extremely useful when the spider grabs hold of its prey and make it almost impossible for the prey to break away and escape the spider's grasp. It is the presence of these leg-spines that give rise to the later part of the spider's binominal name, "spinimana. These leg-spines are also the reason why Zoropsis spinimana is sometimes referred to as the Mediterranean Spiny False Wolf Spider.
In the UK Zoropsis spinimana is probably an exclusively synanthropic species, and is sometimes known as the Mediterranean House Spider. Zoropsis spinimana are most often seen at night as this nocturnal hunter slowly patrols the internal walls of buildings, garages and sheds. There are also some records of this species being found on the outside walls of buildings too. Cannibalism can occur in habitats that exhibit a high density of this species, or where other prey is scarce. - LINK
Zoropsis spinimana are a largely crepuscular species and hunt mainly at dusk and dawn. They can be active all through the night but strongly avoid sunlight and strong artificial light. They are most often discovered in houses either when a person enters a dark room, and turns on a light, or when the person moves furniture, or other large objects, where the spider is hiding behind.
In parts of Europe Zoropsis spinimana can be known as the Garage Spider. In its native Mediterranean range Zoropsis spinimana is also usually found in either buildings, out-buildings, or in the close vicinity to buildings. In the Mediterranean Zoropsis spinimana is not entirely synanthropic though and it can also be found in forest areas, sheltering behind loose tree bark, and in rocky areas, under large stones. - LINK. It is likely that this sudden human-mediated expansion of Zoropsis spinimana's range, and its sudden shift to becoming a largely synanthropic species, could be a response to climate change, but is probably driven by a rapid evolutionary adaptation, as we have seen with other arachnid species such as Steatoda nobilis and Latrodectus geometricus.
In Germany Zoropsis spinimana is commonly known as the Nosferatu Spider. A name inspired by the markings on the spider's carapace, that some claim resemble the vampire, Count Orlok, from the 1922 German movie Nosferatu.
24mm adult female Zoropsis spinimana, found in a residential house in Southwark, SE London, 24th March 2025.
Zoropsis spinimana is a large and robust spider by UK standards, with males typically reaching a body-length of 10-12mm, and females typically reaching around 15-19mm in body-length. Females typically have a leg-span of around 45mm or more. The slightly smaller, but longer legged males usually have a leg-span of 50-60mm. Some specimens can grow larger than these lengths. I'd like to give very grateful thanks to Elizabeth Price, who kindly captured, and allowed me to collect the Zoropsis spinimana pictured above. This was the second Zoropsis spinimana that had been found in Elizabeth's residential home in Southwark, in SE London: - LINK. This was a particularly large adult female specimen, with a body-length of 24mm and a leg-span of 60mm. There have been a couple of photos, recently shared on Facebook, of large male Zoropsis spinimana, with leg-spans exceeding 60mm. Here's one specimen from Uxbridge, in West London: - LINK. The second specimen was one of many at a residential home in Enfield, north London: - LINK. As seen in these photos Zoropsis spinimana specimens found in the UK range from a light tan to brown in colour, or sometimes light grey. Zoropsis spinimana can also be found in a reddish-brown colour too.
24mm adult female Zoropsis spinimana, found in a residential house in Southwark, SE London, 24th March 2025.
So why is it called the False Wolf Spider?
This large hunting species looks very similar in appearance to a Wolf Spider, from the family Lycosidae, but Zoropsis spinimana comes from the family Zoropsidae. Zoropsis spinimana is the only representative of this family found in the UK and members of this family can be distinguished from true Wolf Spiders by looking closely at their eye arrangements. Zoropsis eyes are restricted to near the front edge of the cephalothorax, whereas on wolf spiders the eyes are spread across the front third of the cephalothorax. Wolf Spiders have two large prominent posterior median eyes, which are far larger than any of their other six eyes. Zoropsis species also have 8 eyes, positioned in two rows that curve slightly inwards. All 8 of Zoropsis eyes are very similar in size, and none are as large as the PM eyes of the Wolf Spider.
The False Wolf spider can also be distinguished from Wolf Spiders by its hunting techniques too. Wolf Spiders rely on their sudden bursts of rapid speed and their agility to chase down and catch their prey, so they’re very fast moving spiders. The False Wolf Spider adopts a different approach. It moves much more slowly and relies on stealth to catch its prey. Zoropsis spinimana hunts by very slowly creeping up on its prey, and only showing any real speed when the prey is within range for the spider to launch an attack and grab hold of its victim.
Zoropsis species have well developed adhesive hairs, in dense hair tufts, found mainly on the tarsi and metatarsi of the front legs, known as scopulae. Their legs, particularly the front legs, also have well developed and specialised distal scopulae, known as claw tufts too. Wolf Spiders, of the family Lycosida, have scopulae but don't have the claw tufts. These claw tufts of adhesive hairs allow Zoropsis species to ascend very smooth and flat vertical surfaces such as interior walls and windows. The scopulae, which are found mainly on the tarsi and metatarsi of the front legs, are used in conjunction with their leg spines, for grasping hold of prey rather than climbing.
Zoropsis spinimana is representative of the Cribellate Spiders, as such they are equipped with both calamistrum and cribellum, structures that allow them to weave cribellate silk with a typical woolly structure. None of the true Wolf Spiders, Lycosidae, possess these organs, and cannot produce cribellate silk.
Comparison between the eye-arrangements of Lycosidae and Zoropsidae
24mm adult female Zoropsis spinimana, found in a residential house in Southwark, SE London, 24th March 2025.
24mm adult female Zoropsis spinimana, found in a residential house in Southwark, SE London, 24th March 2025.
Are Zoropsis spinimana dangerous, and do they bite?
Zoropsis spinimana is typically a docile and slow moving species, and can usually be carefully handled without risk of incurring a bite. Bites when handling these spiders can happen though, and can on occasion be moderately painful too. The venom of Zoropsis spinimana is not dangerous to humans and has no serious or long-term effects. Bites can sometimes cause minor reddening and swelling, but such symptoms disappear within a few hours (Nentwig et al. 2013). Watch video of Zoropsis spinimana being handled here.
There don't seem to be any records or accounts online of humans being bitten by Zoropsis spinimana anywhere in the UK. However, on the 20th August 2024 amateur arachnologist, Shreyas Kuchibhotla, was bitten by a large 14mm sub-adult male Zoropsis spinimana, that he'd found in north London, and had taken into captivity to study. The spider was being gently encouraged to exit its containing pot so it could be photographed. Shreyas recalled that the spider showed rather "atypical behaviour. It walked out of the pot onto my finger and I suddenly felt a pricking sensation. The spider was not being squeezed or harassed in any way." Shreyas had previously interacted with several other Zoropsis spinimana specimens and none of them had ever exhibited any defensive behaviour at all. When I asked how painful the bite was Shreyas explained that the bite was "Not bad at all - just a little mild pain for a couple of hours, though I suspect the envenomation wasn’t as prolonged as it usually is since I reflexively brushed the spider off."
In Switzerland there were five recorded accounts of Zoropsis spinimana bites to humans during a two year study period between 2011 -2013, The bites were all from adult female specimens. Only minor symptoms of slight swelling and moderate pain were experienced, even in the case of a young child being bitten. (Nentwig et al. 2013). As part of the study two arachnologists allowed themselves to be deliberately bitten by Zoropsis spinimana. Both described the symptoms as slight swelling and pain “between a mosquito bite and bee sting”. But all symptoms disappeared very quickly.
With any venom there is always the small possibility of a systemic reaction from the human body. Although this is incredibly rare for most species there has been one known isolated case of a more severe reaction to a bite from Zoropsis spinimana. In 2018 a 76 year old man suffered a "slightly painful spider bite, into his left inner wrist, that occurred when the patient picked up a bag of peat on his balcony in Heidelberg." The spider was captured and identified as Zoropsis spinimana. The victim "suffered increasing local pain and swelling during the following hours and on the next day. After two days, the entire lower arm showed extensive edema and sharply demarcated erythema. Moreover, grouped serous blisters with a maximum diameter of 2 cm developed progressively proximal to the bite." The patient was admitted to hospital but "hemorrhages kept developing until the fifth day after the bite." It took a week before all symptoms subsided. - LINK
24mm adult female Zoropsis spinimana, found in a residential house in Southwark, SE London, 24th March 2025.
This huge gravid female Zoropsis spinimana seemed quite content to slowly explore my work boots. It made for some rather striking images. In Germany, where Zoropsis spinimana is also now well established, the most common months for these spiders to be observed wandering in houses are September, then August, and then October. - See page 4.
24mm adult female Zoropsis spinimana, found in a residential house in Southwark, SE London, 24th March 2025.
24mm adult female Zoropsis spinimana, found in a residential house in Southwark, SE London, 24th March 2025.
24mm adult female Zoropsis spinimana, found in a residential house in Southwark, SE London, 24th March 2025.
24mm adult female Zoropsis spinimana, found in a residential house in Southwark, SE London, 24th March 2025.
24mm adult female Zoropsis spinimana, found in a residential house in Southwark, SE London, 24th March 2025.
24mm adult female Zoropsis spinimana, found in a residential house in Southwark, SE London, 24th March 2025.
24mm adult female Zoropsis spinimana, found in a residential house in Southwark, SE London, 24th March 2025.
24mm adult female Zoropsis spinimana, found in a residential house in Southwark, SE London, 24th March 2025.
24mm adult female Zoropsis spinimana, found in a residential house in Southwark, SE London, 24th March 2025.
24mm adult female Zoropsis spinimana, found in a residential house in Southwark, SE London, 24th March 2025.
24mm adult female Zoropsis spinimana, found in a residential house in Southwark, SE London, 24th March 2025.
Adult female Zoropsis spinimana, found in a residential house in Southwark, SE London, 24th March 2025.
Adult female Zoropsis spinimana, on a residential garden fence March 2025.
Adult female Zoropsis spinimana, on a residential garden fence March 2025.
Adult female Zoropsis spinimana, on a residential garden fence March 2025.
Gravid female Zoropsis spinimana in her brood chamber, laying the groundwork for her egg-sac / cocoon. 3rd April 2025.
Cribellate silk and Cocoon Construction.
Although Zoropsis spinimana does not use any silk to catch or wrap its prey it is still capable of producing cribellate silk, similar to that of the Lace Weavers, Amaurobius species. Conventional spiders produce their silk from their spinnerets. However, the cribellate silk is produced from the spider's cribellum, which are a pair of sieve-like plates located just in front of the spinnerets. Cribellate silk has a unique and distinctive woolly texture, that is caused by the extremely thin fibres. The cribellate silk is teased out by a row of curved bristles on the metatarsus of the fourth leg. This bristled structure is known as the calamistrum.
So what purpose does Zoropsis spinimana have for cribellate silk if it does build a web and it doesn't wrap its prey? Zoropsis spinimana does sometimes still produce silken safety lines, which it can leave behind as a trail when it's climbing up slippery surfaces. The main purpose Zoropsis spinimana has for its silk production is employed by gravid female specimens. Egg production typically occurs in the springtime. When the time is close for the gravid female to lay her eggs she will find herself a sheltered flat surface, often in a high corner of a room, garage or shed, and she will construct and lock herself away in a brood chamber. The brood shelter can also be built under rocks or behind loose bark. Once in her brood chamber she will never leave again and here she will stay for the remainder of her days. Often within a day or two of building the brood chamber the female will start producing her cocoon / egg-sac. She starts first by laying a circular woolly covering on the flat surface, typically of around 20-25mm in diameter. She will then deposit her eggs on this woolly circle of silk, before sealing them in with plenty more woolly cribellate silk laid over the top. Some female specimens may produce more than one cocoon. The egg-sac typically contains between 20-50 eggs.
The female will then stand guard over her cocoon and defend it against any potential threats from predators. The eggs usually hatch after about 4 weeks, but can take less in hot conditions, or considerably longer in cold conditions. The adult female will often perish before they emerge. If she is still alive once the spiderlings hatch then she will continue to stand guard over them. The female will eventually die, often at just over 2 years of age, and the young spiderlings typically disperse in late summer. The juvenile spiders overwinter and will then reach maturity in Autumn. Once the males reach maturity at around 14-15 months of age they seek out a mating partner. Once mating has taken place the male typically stops feeding and eventually perish at around 14-18 months of age. The mated adult females will overwinter for the second time in their life before constructing their own silken brood chamber in the spring and starting the lifecycle once again.
I have read an account from one keeper that in captivity an adult female Zoropsis spinimana lived for 2 years and 2 months, whilst her two male siblings lived for just 1 year and 3 months. - LINK. Unfortunately many online sources give incorrect information on the lifespan of Zoropsis spinimana, claiming that this species lives for just one year. It's simply not possible for such a large spider to reach maturity within such a short space of time, especially in a synanthropic environment where food is generally scarce. In eco-systems where food is abundant Zoropsis spinimana can be vivacious feeders and such specimens may mature quite quickly. In optimal environmental conditions Zoropsis spinimana is capable of reaching maturity between 160 and 200 days, although this is uncommon. Whilst the lifecycle detailed here is typical of the species adult Zoropsis spinimana, of both sexes, can on occasion be found all year round.
Gravid female Zoropsis spinimana in her brood chamber, laying the groundwork for her egg-sac / cocoon. 3rd April 2025.
Gravid female Zoropsis spinimana in her brood chamber, standing guard over her egg-sac / cocoon. 4th April 2025.
Around 20 hours after the female first started laying the cribellate silk, that would form the base of her cocoon, the eggs were all laid and covered over with more silk. The female then stood guard on top of her egg-sac, looking considerably smaller and slimmer than she previously did when she was full of eggs.
Gravid female Zoropsis spinimana in her brood chamber, standing guard over her egg-sac / cocoon. 4th April 2025.
Gravid female Zoropsis spinimana in her brood chamber, standing guard over her egg-sac / cocoon. 4th April 2025.
A close up look at the woolly cribellate silk used by Zoropsis spinimana to block the entrance to her brood chamber,
All Photographs on this page were taken using the Canon 7D mkii camera, the Canon 100mm Macro 2.8L IS lens, Canon 580 ex flash and MK Diffuser.
Some photos were taken with the addition of the Rayox 250 macro adapter.