About Trochosa terricola Thorell, 1856
Male Trochosa terricola measure 7–9 mm in body length, while females measure 7–14 mm. This species shares a similar general appearance with other members of the genus Trochosa. Mature females have a reddish abdomen, and males have darkened front legs. Two short visible lines on the carapace are a diagnostic feature for all Trochosa wolf spiders. A dark cardiac mark on T. terricola distinguishes this species from Trochosa ruricola, which has a light cardiac mark instead.
This spider occurs in woodland, grassland, heathland, and industrial sites. It is often found underneath stones and fallen logs, and it prefers drier, heath-like habitats overall. Despite this preference, individuals have also been collected in pitfall traps set in bog and marsh areas. Unlike the related species T. ruricola, T. terricola is often common in upland areas. It has a Holarctic distribution; within Europe, it occurs across the entire continent, as well as in Great Britain and Ireland, but it is not found in Iceland.
