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Pardosa xerampelina is similar to other Pardosa with a carapace that is dark brown to black, but which has several radiating black lines (Dondale & Redner, 1986, 1990), and may have a pale, reddish median area which is widest around the dorsal groove, and is more prominent in females. Females also have pale submarginal bands. The sternum is also nearly black, but may have a pale median line (Chamberlin, 1908). The legs have femora that are dark brown and may have broad, but indistinct black rings (especially females), but the ends of the legs are a lighter brownish orange. The chelicerae are dark brown, but paler toward the middle. The abdomen is dark reddish-brown to black, and may have a dull red heart mark (Dondale & Redner, 1986, 1990), or a series of brown chevron-like markings (Chamberlin, 1908). Females (length = 6.76 +/- 0.78 mm) are longer than males (length = 6.26 +/- 0.49 mm), and are slightly larger-bodied in general; female carapace width = 2.66 +/- 0.27 mm, while male carapace width = 2.42 +/- 0.15 mm (Dondale & Redner, 1986, 1990). The male palp has an embolus that is long and stout at the base, but slender and slightly curved distally. The palpal character distinguishing male Pardosa xerampelina from other Pardosa is an elongate median apophysis which, from a ventral view, conceals most of the embolus. The epigynal characters distinguishing female P. xerampelina from other Pardosa are shallow hood cavities that are not directed mesally, and a median septum that widens anteriorly (Dondale & Redner, 1986, 1990).

No relationship between Pardosa xerampelina abundance and soil moisture was found in a study of habitat affinities of spiders living near a freshwater pond (Graham et al., 2003). This spider decreases in relative abundance with increasing forest stand age (Buddle et al., 2000).

Like other wolf spiders, Pardosa xerampelina hunts actively, by pouncing on prey and holding it with its front legs, while mashing it up with its chelicerae (Gertsch, 1979) and is a general predator on arthropods, including insects and other spiders.