About Pardosa milvina (Hentz, 1844)
Pardosa milvina, commonly called the shore spider, has a characteristic eye arrangement: its top row of eyes holds four eyes, and each of the following two rows has just two eyes. It has long, thin legs covered in long spines. This species cannot climb smooth surfaces, because it lacks the tufts of hair found on the leg tips of many other spiders. Compared to other members of the wolf spider family it belongs to, these spiders have smaller chelicerae and more wavy dorsal stripes. They have yellow spots on the abdomen, and males have white hairs on their kneecaps. Shore spiders are small in size: the largest recorded female reaches approximately 6.2 mm in total length, while the largest recorded male reaches approximately 4.7 mm. Females of this species carry large egg sacs. Pardosa milvina occurs in high densities near rivers and agricultural areas across eastern North America. Their abundance varies greatly throughout the year, between different months, and even between successive years. They can also be found in dry, open woods located near water bodies including rivers, ponds, and streams, with recorded occurrences in New England, Georgia, and areas west of the Rocky Mountains. Shore spiders are abundant in disturbed habitats, and are commonly found on soil surfaces or within patches of mulch.
