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Pardosa mackenziana belongs to the Pardosa nigra group which is represented in Canada and Alaska by four more species (Lowrie & Dondale 1981 in Dondale & Redner 1990). Most of wolf spiders are very similar and usually differences are based on male and female sexual characters, however, size, distribution and coloration patterns usually help to differentiate some species. Carapace (dorsal portion of the head region or cephalothorax) broad, dark brown with a dorso-medial longitudinal lighter band which is constricted in its anterior third, no marginal bands present. Mouthparts: Chelicerae and fangs the same color as carapace; labium, endites slightly lighter in color with a pale anterior border. Sternum (ventral plate between legs) light brown. Femora (3rd leg segment) and tibia (5th leg segment) dusky with three inconspicuous lighter rings; patella (4th leg segment), metatarsi (6th leg segment) and tarsi (7th leg segment) brown. Abdomen with no markings, dorsally dark, lighter ventrally. Males and Females similar in coloration pattern but males smaller. Male palps (see additional picture, articulated appendages anterior to 1st pair of legs): Medial apophysis (ma in palp image) with two projections, anterior projection longer, curved and with several minute “teeth” on its tip, posterior projection smaller, rounded (rather conical); terminal apophysis (ta in palp image) slender and curved, with internal border toothed. Female epigynum (see additional picture, located in the anterior ventral side of the abdomen): Longer than wide, with two lateral dark swellings (1 in image), median septum with anterior part long and narrow (2 in image) and posterior part broader and ridged (3 in image).

This is one of the most common species and could be found in different habitats, such as spruce, lodgepole pine, oak, poplar and birch forests, salt marshes, sphagnum bogs and along shores of seas and lakes (Dondale & Redner 1990; Nordstrom & Buckle 2002). Although this species has general habitat requirements, results have showed a higher abundance of P. mackenziana on surface of logs than in surrounding habitats, especially females carrying egg sacs, probably for warming up themselves and egg sacs (Buddle, 2001), this species prefer open areas in the forest having negative correlation with shade (Buddle 2000). This species co-occur with Pardosa moesta, but depending on the degree of canopy closure, densities of these two species differ (P. mackenziana more abundant in closed canopy stands while P. moesta more abundant in open stands) (Buddle et al 2000). Pardosa mackenziana has been reported as biennial (Buddle 2000), overwintering one time as immature and one time as subadult having the reproductive season between early May to late June.