The food consumption of a wolf spider, Geolycosa godeffroyi (Araneae: Lycosidae), in the Australian Capital Territory.

A method is described to measure the food consumption of a wolf spider, Geolycosa godeffroyi, in the field. The method is based on a calibration curve relating the food consumed in 14 days to the production of components of the excreta, mainly guanine, in the subsequent 7 days. The method was used to measure the food consumption of the spiders in the field over one year. Compared with many arthropods, G. godeffroyi feeds at a high rate but this is probably a reflection of its habit of behavioural thermoregulation.