Lycosidae Trochosa

Trochosa ruricoloides Schenkel, 1963

White-spotted Wolf Spider

This is the only known representative of the genus Trochosa in Singapore. The genus is defined chiefly by genital characteristics. Nevertheless, most Trochosa males can be recognised from an outgrowth on the fangs. Trochosa species tend to be nocturnal and show a distinct preference of living in moist environments, although some other lycosids in Singapore also have one or the other of these habits, or both.

T. ruricoloides adults show some superficial resemblance to the Pardosa species in Singapore (page xxx-xxx). However, T. ruricoloides is more dully coloured and slower in movement. The male palps of T. ruricoloides are slenderer than those of Pardosa, and they are not covered with black hairs as in the male palps of Pardosa. T. ruricoloides females are generally larger and stouter than the females of Pardosa species in Singapore. The dorsum of female T. ruricoloides bears two longitudinal rows of four or five small white spots, a character which separates the species from other lycosids in Singapore.