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Lycosa godeffroyi can be found in the eastern states of Australia. Other related Wolf Spider species can also be found in Australia, in fact they are common in nearly every country in the world.
Lycosa godeffroyi is typically quite drab in colouration. Its upper side has a strong, camouflaging pattern of grey, brown, black, cream and white, while its underside is black. It is a largish spider. Females can have a body length of over 2 cm, while males are slightly smaller.
Like all Wolf Spiders, Lycosa godeffroyi is a wanderer. It doesn't spin a web, but relies on its sense of touch and excellent eyesight for hunting insects. Lycosa godeffroyi has eight eyes arranged in three rows. The top row has two medium-sized eyes, the middle row consists of two very large forward pointing eyes and the bottom row consists of four small eyes.
Lycosa godeffroyi isn't a particularly aggressive spider, but it will bite if provoked. Its bite can cause severe pain, redness and swelling.
When it's not hunting for food, Lycosa godeffroyi spends its time sunning itself or hiding in its burrow. The spider carefully digs this burrow itself, or takes over an abandoned burrow. This burrow may be up to 15 cm deep, turning to another 15 cm of tunnel running parallel with the surface. The entrance is circular and may be covered by a thin layer of webbing (after mating) or leaf litter.
Spring is mating time and males wander about looking for a female. After an elaborate courtship and mating, the female lays her eggs on a circular mat of blue-white silk, which she then draws up and makes into a ball. This ball can be as large as she is. She then attaches the ball to her spinnerets on the underside of her abdomen with silk threads and proceeds to carry it around with her for protection. When it is cool, she will face the egg sac to the sun and rotate it for even warmth.
When the babies hatch, they climb up onto their mother's back where they cling on to specially knobbed hairs - often covering her several layers deep. She will patiently carry them around with her, protecting them. During that time, they do not share her food and, when they fall off, she does not pick them up again. This way, the babies are dispersed over a wide area.
The young spiders also disperse themselves by ballooning. When it's warm and windy, a spiderling will stand on raised legs and point its abdomen upwards. It then extrudes several silk threads into the air and lets itself be carried away by the breeze.
Wolf Spiders can live up to two years.
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