Home / Wolf Spiders / Kauaʻi Cave Wolf Spider (Adelocosa anops)

Kauaʻi Cave Wolf Spider (Adelocosa anops)

The Kaua’i cave wolf spider is a unique creature found in the Koloa Poipu region of Hawaii’s Kauai island. Often called the “blind spider” by locals, this rare species has only six known populations today. Explore fascinating details about this spider as you read on!

Scientific Classification

Kauai Cave Wolf Spider

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

  • Size: They are 20 mm or 0.8 inches in length.
  • Color: These spiders have a reddish brown carapace, silvery abdomen, and beige or pale orange legs.
  • Other characteristics:  The wolf spiders generally have two big eyes, situated in the center of their eight eyes, but these species are different and devoid of any eyes, which also earns them the name big-eyed or no-eyed wolf spider.

Eggs

Only 15 to 30 eggs are produced per clutch and the egg sac is carried by the mother until the spiderlings hatch.

Kauai Cave Wolf Spider Egg

Spiderlings

Once the juvenile spiders mature a little after being hatched, they disperse and are on their own.

Kauai Cave Wolf Spiderling

The Web

Yes, like most spiders, Kauaʻi Cave Wolf Spiders have venom. However, their venom is not considered harmful to humans.

Are Kauaʻi Cave Wolf Spiders Venomous?

Yes, like most spiders, Kauaʻi Cave Wolf Spiders have venom. However, their venom is not considered harmful to humans.

Can Kauaʻi Cave Wolf Spiders Bite?

While they can bite if provoked or threatened, bites from Kauaʻi Cave Wolf Spiders are rare and generally not dangerous to people.

Ecological Importance and Behavior of Kauaʻi Cave Wolf Spider

Kauaʻi Cave Wolf Spiders play an important role in their ecosystem as both predators and prey for other animals like birds, lizards, frogs, centipedes, etc., helping to maintain balance in nature. They can be seen during nighttime hunting for food or resting near rocks during the daytime when it is cooler outside.

Natural Predators: The primary predators of Kauaʻi Cave Wolf Spiders include centipedes, geckos, shrews, frogs, bats, and birds like owls who hunt them for food while larger spiders may even feed on smaller ones from their own species if given an opportunity to do so.

Prey-Predator Dynamics: Kauaʻi Cave Wolf Spiders primarily feed on small invertebrates like crickets, ants, and grasshoppers but they can also catch larger prey like small lizards if given an opportunity to do so due to their strong jaws which help them capture their prey quickly before it escapes away from them. 

Relationship with Humans: Due to their endangered status, these spiders have become a source of interest among scientists who study them for various reasons including conservation efforts aimed at preserving this unique species from extinction. Also, for understanding more about how they interact with other organisms in their environment including humans who visit caves where these creatures reside occasionally for recreational purposes or research purposes alike. 

Quick Facts

Other names Blind-eye spider, Big-eyed spider
LifespanMales: 1 year approximately Females: Longer than males, maybe for several years
DistributionKaua’I region of Hawaiian islands
HabitatBeing cave spiders, they are found in cave-bearing rocks, subterranean cracks, spaces, and voids
Diet Crickets, ants,  small lizards, grasshoppers, and different kinds of small invertebrates
IUCN Conservation Status Endangered

Did You Know

  • These species and the Kaua’I cave amphipod, one of the spider’s primary prey, were categorized as endangered on the 14th of January, 2000.
  • The number of spiders and amphipods has not been more than 30 and 80 respectively.
  • Since they dwell in caves, these spiders require a constant source of moisture, stagnant air, and a temperature range between 75 and 80°F.

In conclusion, the Kauaʻi Cave Wolf Spider is a unique species found only in the Koloa Poipu region of Hawaiis Kauai island. It is an endangered species and has been listed as such since 2000. This spider plays an important role in its ecosystem by helping to maintain balance in nature as both predator and prey for other animals.

Image Credits: Pbs.twimg.com, Fws.gov, Biolib.cz

The Kaua’i cave wolf spider is a unique creature found in the Koloa Poipu region of Hawaii’s Kauai island. Often called the “blind spider” by locals, this rare species has only six known populations today. Explore fascinating details about this spider as you read on!

Kauai Cave Wolf Spider

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

  • Size: They are 20 mm or 0.8 inches in length.
  • Color: These spiders have a reddish brown carapace, silvery abdomen, and beige or pale orange legs.
  • Other characteristics:  The wolf spiders generally have two big eyes, situated in the center of their eight eyes, but these species are different and devoid of any eyes, which also earns them the name big-eyed or no-eyed wolf spider.

Eggs

Only 15 to 30 eggs are produced per clutch and the egg sac is carried by the mother until the spiderlings hatch.

Kauai Cave Wolf Spider Egg

Spiderlings

Once the juvenile spiders mature a little after being hatched, they disperse and are on their own.

Kauai Cave Wolf Spiderling

The Web

Yes, like most spiders, Kauaʻi Cave Wolf Spiders have venom. However, their venom is not considered harmful to humans.

Are Kauaʻi Cave Wolf Spiders Venomous?

Yes, like most spiders, Kauaʻi Cave Wolf Spiders have venom. However, their venom is not considered harmful to humans.

Can Kauaʻi Cave Wolf Spiders Bite?

While they can bite if provoked or threatened, bites from Kauaʻi Cave Wolf Spiders are rare and generally not dangerous to people.

Ecological Importance and Behavior of Kauaʻi Cave Wolf Spider

Kauaʻi Cave Wolf Spiders play an important role in their ecosystem as both predators and prey for other animals like birds, lizards, frogs, centipedes, etc., helping to maintain balance in nature. They can be seen during nighttime hunting for food or resting near rocks during the daytime when it is cooler outside.

Natural Predators: The primary predators of Kauaʻi Cave Wolf Spiders include centipedes, geckos, shrews, frogs, bats, and birds like owls who hunt them for food while larger spiders may even feed on smaller ones from their own species if given an opportunity to do so.

Prey-Predator Dynamics: Kauaʻi Cave Wolf Spiders primarily feed on small invertebrates like crickets, ants, and grasshoppers but they can also catch larger prey like small lizards if given an opportunity to do so due to their strong jaws which help them capture their prey quickly before it escapes away from them. 

Relationship with Humans: Due to their endangered status, these spiders have become a source of interest among scientists who study them for various reasons including conservation efforts aimed at preserving this unique species from extinction. Also, for understanding more about how they interact with other organisms in their environment including humans who visit caves where these creatures reside occasionally for recreational purposes or research purposes alike. 

Quick Facts

Other names Blind-eye spider, Big-eyed spider
LifespanMales: 1 year approximately Females: Longer than males, maybe for several years
DistributionKaua’I region of Hawaiian islands
HabitatBeing cave spiders, they are found in cave-bearing rocks, subterranean cracks, spaces, and voids
Diet Crickets, ants,  small lizards, grasshoppers, and different kinds of small invertebrates
IUCN Conservation Status Endangered

Did You Know

  • These species and the Kaua’I cave amphipod, one of the spider’s primary prey, were categorized as endangered on the 14th of January, 2000.
  • The number of spiders and amphipods has not been more than 30 and 80 respectively.
  • Since they dwell in caves, these spiders require a constant source of moisture, stagnant air, and a temperature range between 75 and 80°F.

In conclusion, the Kauaʻi Cave Wolf Spider is a unique species found only in the Koloa Poipu region of Hawaiis Kauai island. It is an endangered species and has been listed as such since 2000. This spider plays an important role in its ecosystem by helping to maintain balance in nature as both predator and prey for other animals.

Image Credits: Pbs.twimg.com, Fws.gov, Biolib.cz