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Genus Gladicosa

Wolf Spider - Gladicosa pulchra Gladicosa pulchra - male Gladicosa pulchra - male Lycosidae, lateral - Gladicosa gulosa Spider - Gladicosa gulosa - male Wolf Spider sp. - Gladicosa gulosa Wolf Spider - Gladicosa gulosa Brown Spider - Gladicosa gulosa
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Chelicerata (Chelicerates)
Class Arachnida (Arachnids)
Order Araneae (Spiders)
Infraorder Araneomorphae (True Spiders)
No Taxon (Entelegynae)
Family Lycosidae (Wolf Spiders)
Genus Gladicosa
Explanation of Names
A combination of gladius (Latin for 'sword'), referring to the unique sword-shaped embolus of the male palpus, and cosa derived from the generic name Lycosa. It is considered feminine.(1)
Numbers
5 species in BugGuide's range (North America north of Mexico).
Size
Body length 19mm or less(1)
Identification
"Gladicosa pulchra is closest to G. gulosa in size, coloration, and genitalic structure. Gladicosa pulchra is a larger species and is usually darker in color with a more distinct pattern. In most specimens of pulchra the venter of the abdomen is dark brown to black behind the epigastric furrow, while that of gulosa is yellowish to light brown."(1)
Range
Gladicosa bellamyi: FL, MS, OH, OK.(1)
Gladicosa euepigynata: Texas.(1)
Gladicosa gulosa: eastern United States (as far west as the Rockies) and southeastern Canada.(1)
Gladicosa huberti: FL, GA, MS, SC, TX (the Gulf States).(1)(2)
Gladicosa pulchra: From Long Island to Florida, west to Texas and southern Kansas. More abundant in the southeastern United States.(1)
Print References
Brady, A. R. 1986. Nearctic species of the new wolf spider genus Gladicosa (Araneae: Lycosidae). Psyche 93: 285-320.(1)
Works Cited
1.Nearctic species of the new wolf spider genus Gladicosa (Araneae: Lycosidae)
Allen R. Brady. 1987. Psyche, vol. 93, no. 3-4, 285-319.
2.Spiders of Texas