Georgia wolf spider (Tigrosa georgicola)
The Georgia wolf spider is a spider in the family Lycosidae that is not dangerous to people. GBIF holds 792 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 22 states, most of all Texas (166), Virginia (113) and North Carolina (71). Its observation records peak in May.
Tigrosa georgicola is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae. It is endemic to the Southeastern United States. The type specimen was collected in Burke County, Georgia.
From Wikipedia: Tigrosa georgicola, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is the Georgia wolf spider poisonous or venomous?
Not in any medically significant way. Like almost all spiders the Georgia wolf spider (family Lycosidae) has venom for its prey, but it is not a widow or recluse, the two U.S. groups whose bites need medical attention.
Which states have the Georgia wolf spider?
Records are spread over 22 states; the top three, Texas, Virginia and North Carolina, hold 44% of them.
| # | State | Records | Share of state spiders | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 166 | 0.6% | 33rd of 386 |
| 2 | Virginia | 113 | 1.0% | 26th of 176 |
| 3 | North Carolina | 71 | 0.9% | 30th of 184 |
| 4 | Louisiana | 55 | 1.4% | 18th of 107 |
| 5 | Tennessee | 45 | 1.2% | 19th of 138 |
| 6 | Florida | 41 | 0.3% | 45th of 237 |
| 7 | Georgia | 38 | 0.6% | 40th of 186 |
| 8 | Alabama | 37 | 1.0% | 22nd of 143 |
| 9 | Kentucky | 36 | 1.9% | 12th of 103 |
| 10 | South Carolina | 36 | 1.5% | 16th of 121 |
| 11 | Maryland | 29 | 0.5% | 47th of 153 |
| 12 | Delaware | 28 | 1.3% | 20th of 71 |
| 13 | Arkansas | 22 | 1.3% | 22nd of 114 |
| 14 | Mississippi | 22 | 1.5% | 13th of 117 |
| 15 | Oklahoma | 20 | 0.4% | 51st of 149 |
| 16 | Missouri | 11 | 0.5% | 44th of 117 |
| 17 | Illinois | 10 | 0.1% | 191st of 243 |
| 18 | New Jersey | 4 | 0.2% | 90th of 127 |
| 19 | Kansas | 3 | 0.2% | 67th of 94 |
| 20 | Ohio | 2 | 0.0% | 146th of 332 |
| 21 | West Virginia | 1 | 0.1% | 57th of 90 |
| 22 | Indiana | 0 | — | — |
When is the Georgia wolf spider seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the Georgia wolf spider run mostly March through November, peaking in May with 17% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 7% of them.
Season by state
Observation records run through most of the year in Louisiana and Texas. Among states whose main season falls within one calendar year, it starts earliest in March (Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee) and latest in April (Alabama, Kentucky and Virginia). The most common peak month is April, shared by Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina and South Carolina.
| State | Main season | Peak month | Observation records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | most of the year | March | 166 |
| Virginia | April through October | May | 113 |
| North Carolina | March through October | April | 71 |
| Louisiana | most of the year | April | 54 |
| Tennessee | March through October | May | 45 |
| Florida | October through June | April | 39 |
| Georgia | March through November | June | 38 |
| Alabama | April through October | May | 37 |
| Kentucky | April through October | April | 36 |
| South Carolina | March through November | April | 36 |
Where the Georgia wolf spider is recorded in each state
Texas
Texas holds 166 licensed records, the 33rd most recorded of 386 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Texas run through most of the year, peaking in March; most licensed records come from Travis County, Williamson County and Tarrant County. Next come Harris County (10) and Montgomery County (10).
Virginia
Virginia holds 113 licensed records, the 26th most recorded of 176 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Virginia run mostly April through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Accomack County and Powhatan County. Next come Prince William County (7) and Louisa County (5).
North Carolina
North Carolina holds 71 licensed records, the 30th most recorded of 184 spiders listed there. Its observation records in North Carolina run mostly March through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Orange County, Durham County and Wake County. Next come Chatham County (3) and Guilford County (3).
Louisiana
Louisiana holds 55 licensed records, the 18th most recorded of 107 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Louisiana run through most of the year, peaking in April; most licensed records come from East Baton Rouge Parish, Saint Tammany Parish and West Feliciana Parish. Next come Calcasieu Parish (3) and Lincoln Parish (2).
Tennessee
Tennessee holds 45 licensed records, the 19th most recorded of 138 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Tennessee run mostly March through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Montgomery County, Wilson County and Cheatham County. Next come Davidson County (3) and Knox County (3).
Florida
Florida holds 41 licensed records, the joint 45th most recorded of 237 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Florida run mostly October through June, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Alachua County, Leon County and Levy County. Next come Escambia County (2) and Lake County (2).
Georgia
Georgia holds 38 licensed records, the 40th most recorded of 186 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Georgia run mostly March through November, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Clarke County, Columbia County and Floyd County. Next come Henry County (3) and Oconee County (2).
Alabama
Alabama holds 37 licensed records, the joint 22nd most recorded of 143 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Alabama run mostly April through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Blount County, Hale County and Cullman County. Next come Tuscaloosa County (4) and Jefferson County (3).
Kentucky
Kentucky holds 36 licensed records, the 12th most recorded of 103 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Kentucky run mostly April through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Madison County, Rowan County and Edmonson County. Next come Pulaski County (1) and Shelby County (1).
South Carolina
South Carolina holds 36 licensed records, the 16th most recorded of 121 spiders listed there. Its observation records in South Carolina run mostly March through November, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Richland County, Charleston County and Abbeville County. Next come Chesterfield County (3) and Lexington County (2).
Top counties in the U.S.
| # | County | State | Records | Share of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orange County | North Carolina | 31 | 3.9% |
| 2 | Fairfax County | Virginia | 31 | 3.9% |
| 3 | East Baton Rouge Parish | Louisiana | 24 | 3.0% |
| 4 | Travis County | Texas | 22 | 2.8% |
| 5 | Williamson County | Texas | 19 | 2.4% |
| 6 | Madison County | Kentucky | 16 | 2.0% |
| 7 | Saint Tammany Parish | Louisiana | 13 | 1.6% |
| 8 | Richland County | South Carolina | 13 | 1.6% |
| 9 | Tarrant County | Texas | 13 | 1.6% |
| 10 | Accomack County | Virginia | 12 | 1.5% |
| 11 | Alachua County | Florida | 11 | 1.4% |
| 12 | Harris County | Texas | 10 | 1.3% |
| 13 | Montgomery County | Texas | 10 | 1.3% |
| 14 | Dallas County | Texas | 10 | 1.3% |
| 15 | Montgomery County | Tennessee | 9 | 1.1% |
How recent are the Georgia wolf spider records?
Most of what is known about the Georgia wolf spider is recent: 96% of dated U.S. records were made in 2017–2026, and half date from 2023 or later. The oldest dated record is from 1942; the busiest year was 2024, with 137 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 1 | 0.1% |
| 1980s | 1 | 0.1% |
| 2000s | 4 | 0.5% |
| 2010s | 139 | 17.2% |
| 2020s | 661 | 82.0% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 147 counties where the Georgia wolf spider is most recorded, 77 are also top counties for the black-and-yellow argiope, more than for any other spider. None of its closest neighbors is venomous.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| Black-and-yellow argiope | 77 |
| Arrowhead orbweaver | 76 |
| Rabid wolf spider | 75 |
| Spotted orbweaver | 74 |
| Familiar jumping spider | 72 |
| Nursery web spider | 70 |
| White-banded fishing spider | 66 |
| Magnolia green jumper | 65 |
Related species in the U.S.
Other species of the genus Tigrosa with profiles here: Wetland giant wolf spider.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.