What do trapdoor spiders look like?
There are many different species of trapdoor spider. They are brown or black and can be up to 3.5 cm long. Some males look like they have large boxing gloves near their mouth.
Trapdoor spiders look quite similar to the far more dangerous Funnel-web Spider. Both are large, dark and rather stubby with a hairy coat. If in any doubt, exercise extreme caution.
Where are trapdoor spiders found?
A common resident of the garden, trapdoor spiders are found across eastern and southern Australia, including Tasmania. They are often encountered whilst moving rocks or digging soil. Some don’t actually make a hinged door, but all have one thing in common: they dig a burrow.
Fast facts:
- Trapdoors play an important role in controlling numbers of beetles, cockroaches, crickets, slaters and other spiders.
- Trapdoors are shy and usually flee from any threat (although males may rear up if startled). Trapdoors have large fangs which may cause a painful bite with some pain and swelling. However, their bite is not dangerous. But it’s a good idea to always give spiders a bit of space if you can.
Trapdoor Spiders – the full story
A common resident of the garden, trapdoor spiders are found across eastern and southern Australia, including Tasmania. They are often encountered whilst moving rocks or digging soil. They are brown or black and can be up to 3.5 cm long. Some males look like they have large boxing gloves near their mouth. These are called palps and used for mating.
At night, shining a torch across the lawn may pick up two rows of tiny shining eyes staring up from inside a hole. These burrows can be as long as 40 cm and are lined with soft silky web.
There are many different species of trapdoor spider. Some don’t actually make a hinged door, but all have one thing in common: they dig a burrow in which to lurk awaiting their next victim.
With the door open just a crack, they wait for an unsuspecting cricket or beetle to wander past. The spider leaps out at great speed, seizes its prey and hauls it back into the burrow to be devoured, all in a fraction of a second.
Trapdoors live between 5 to 20 years, and take several years to reach maturity. The female trapdoor can grow up to 3 cm long and live for as long as 20 years. She spends her entire life inside the burrow. Males have a much shorter life. After 2 or 3 years they leave the burrow in late autumn or early winter to roam around in search of a mate.
Trapdoors are shy and usually flee from any threat (although males may rear up if startled). Trapdoors have large fangs which may cause a painful bite with some pain and swelling. However, their bite is not dangerous. But it’s a good idea to always give spiders a bit of space if you can.
Did you know?
Trapdoors play an important role in controlling numbers of beetles, cockroaches, crickets, slaters and other spiders.
Tip
Trapdoor spiders look quite similar to the far more dangerous Funnel-web Spider. Both are large, dark and rather stubby with a hairy coat. If in any doubt, exercise extreme caution.
If you are bitten by a spider it is best to seek medical attention as soon as possible if any reaction occurs.
