Koch's wolf spider (Alopecosa kochi)
The Koch's wolf spider is a spider in the family Lycosidae that is not dangerous to people. GBIF holds 1,256 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 11 states, most of all California (1,020), Arizona (63) and Oregon (18). Its observation records peak in April.
Alopecosa kochi is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae. It is found in North America, including Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Sightings are most frequently recorded in March, with other occurrences during January, February, April, June, August, and December.
From Wikipedia: Alopecosa kochi, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is the Koch's wolf spider poisonous or venomous?
Not in any medically significant way. Like almost all spiders the Koch's wolf spider (family Lycosidae) has venom for its prey, but it is not a widow or recluse, the two U.S. groups whose bites need medical attention.
Which states have the Koch's wolf spider?
The Koch's wolf spider's U.S. record is concentrated: California alone holds 81% of licensed records. It is listed in 11 states in all; the next are Arizona (63), Oregon (18) and New Mexico (15).
| # | State | Records | Share of state spiders | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 1,020 | 2.1% | 7th of 309 |
| 2 | Arizona | 63 | 1.3% | 8th of 162 |
| 3 | Oregon | 18 | 0.6% | 27th of 88 |
| 4 | New Mexico | 15 | 0.6% | 23rd of 247 |
| 5 | Washington | 14 | 0.4% | 48th of 157 |
| 6 | Utah | 8 | 0.3% | 32nd of 97 |
| 7 | Colorado | 6 | 0.1% | 61st of 378 |
| 8 | Nevada | 6 | 1.1% | 15th of 47 |
| 9 | Idaho | 0 | — | — |
| 10 | North Dakota | 0 | — | — |
| 11 | Wyoming | 0 | — | — |
When is the Koch's wolf spider seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the Koch's wolf spider run through most of the year, peaking in April with 16% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 26% of them.
Where the Koch's wolf spider is recorded in each state
California
California holds 1,020 licensed records, the 7th most recorded of 309 spiders listed there. Its observation records in California run through most of the year, peaking in April; most licensed records come from San Diego County, Contra Costa County and Santa Clara County. Next come Solano County (56) and Los Angeles County (48).
Arizona
Arizona holds 63 licensed records, the 8th most recorded of 162 spiders listed there. Most of its licensed records in Arizona come from Pima County, Coconino County and Cochise County. Next come Yavapai County (2) and Graham County (2).
Top counties in the U.S.
| # | County | State | Records | Share of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego County | California | 213 | 17.0% |
| 2 | Contra Costa County | California | 178 | 14.2% |
| 3 | Missoula County | Montana | 95 | 7.6% |
| 4 | Santa Clara County | California | 72 | 5.7% |
| 5 | Solano County | California | 56 | 4.5% |
| 6 | Los Angeles County | California | 48 | 3.8% |
| 7 | Sonoma County | California | 47 | 3.7% |
| 8 | Pima County | Arizona | 41 | 3.3% |
| 9 | Alameda County | California | 30 | 2.4% |
| 10 | Sacramento County | California | 28 | 2.2% |
| 11 | Marin County | California | 26 | 2.1% |
| 12 | San Joaquin County | California | 26 | 2.1% |
| 13 | San Luis Obispo County | California | 21 | 1.7% |
| 14 | Riverside County | California | 20 | 1.6% |
| 15 | San Mateo County | California | 18 | 1.4% |
How recent are the Koch's wolf spider records?
Most of what is known about the Koch's wolf spider is recent: 75% of dated U.S. records were made in 2017–2026, and half date from 2022 or later. The oldest dated record is from 1936; the busiest year was 2024, with 159 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 2 | 0.2% |
| 1940s | 2 | 0.2% |
| 1950s | 1 | 0.1% |
| 1970s | 1 | 0.1% |
| 1990s | 48 | 3.8% |
| 2000s | 146 | 11.6% |
| 2010s | 311 | 24.6% |
| 2020s | 752 | 59.5% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 24 counties where the Koch's wolf spider is most recorded, 19 are also top counties for the western black widow, more than for any other spider. Venomous species among its neighbors: the western black widow.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| Western black widow venomous | 19 |
| Western spotted orbweaver | 17 |
| Bold jumper | 12 |
| Green lynx spider | 12 |
| Shoreline wolf spider | 12 |
| Spotted orbweaver | 12 |
| Banded garden spider | 11 |
| Giant crab spider | 11 |
Related species in the U.S.
Other members of the family Lycosidae with profiles here: Rabid wolf spider, Wetland giant wolf spider, Georgia wolf spider, Shoreline wolf spider, McCook's split wolf spider and Brush-legged split wolf spider.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.