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ANIMAL SPECIES:Trapdoor Spiders

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Most trapdoor spiders are misleadingly named, as not all species make a door for their burrows. These highly camouflaged entrances are almost undetectable, unless the door is open.

Identification

Trapdoor spiders have short, blunt spinnerets. Males usually have a small double spur halfway along their first leg. Females are larger than males, and tend to be harder to identify to species level. These spiders tend to be quite timid, although the male may rear up if threatened.

The common name covers several families of spiders, including the Idiopidae, Actinopodidae, Ctenizidae, Migidae and Cyrtaucheniidae. The Brown Trapdoor (Misgolas sp) and the Spotted Trapdoor (Aganippe sp) Spiders belong to the family Idiopidae. They include a wide variety of types, many of which are adapted to drier habitats.

Brown Trapdoor Spiders are dull brown spiders with a cover of paler gold hairs on carapace ("dusty appearance"), which is usually weakly arched in side profile. There are often pale bars across the abdomen. Males have thick 'boxing glove' palps. Brown Trapdoor spider eyes are arranged in two compact rows.

Sigillate Trapdoor Spiders are brown spiders with a strongly arched glossy carapace and 4 - 6 hairless spots (sigillae) on top of the abdomen. Their eyes are arranged in three distinct rows.

Spiders commonly mistaken for Trapdoors include: Funnel-web Spiders and Mouse Spiders. Also, as there are several families of Trapdoor Spiders, identification to species level can be difficult without a detailed key.

Size range

1.5 cm - 3 cm in body length

Similar Species

Funnel-web Spiders and Mouse Spiders.

Distribution

Australia-wide.

Behaviour and adaptations

Life cycle

The female will lay her eggs several months after mating, and protects them within her burrow. When the juveniles have hatched, they remain for several months before dispersing on the ground. They will then make their own miniature burrows. Each time the spider grows bigger, it has to widen its burrow and, in the door-building species, add another rim to the door. In undamaged trapdoors, annual concentric rings can be seen.

Trapdoors have a long life span, between 5 to 20 years, and take several years to reach maturity. Females stay in or near their burrows, whereas males leave their burrows once mature, and go in search of a mate.

Mating and reproduction

Mature male Trapdoor Spiders wander during humid weather in search of a mate. Mating takes place within the female's burrow. The male usually escapes being eaten in order to mate with several females, before dying.

Living with us

Management

In urban areas Brown Trapdoor Spiders probably play an important role in controlling garden pests, and since they are not considered to be a major threat to humans, it is best just to leave them alone.

Danger to humans and first aid

Brown Trapdoor Spiders are often mistaken for Funnel-web spiders but their bites are not dangerous. Local pain and swelling may occur. Sigillate Trapdoor Spider bites may also cause local pain and swelling. There is one report of unspecified 'severe effects' from a Sigillate Trapdoor Spider bite.

Seek medical attention if symptoms persist. Collect spider for a positive identification.

Classification

Family:
Idiopidae
Superfamily:
Idiopoidea
Infraorder:
Fornicephalae
Suborder:
Mygalomorphae
Order:
Araneae
Class:
Arachnida
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?


Dr Mike Gray
Last Updated: 23 September 2009

5 comments

Louise Kampen STAFF

Louise Kampen
10.09 AM, 23 September 2009

Hi Lucy, from what you have said it sounds like you have a trapdoor spider from the genus Stanwellia. These trapdoor spiders are found in southeastern australia and other parts of southern Australia. They are unusual in that both females as well as males tend to wander from their burrows. We are continually adding fact sheets to the website and hope to get one on Stanwellia species of trapdoor spiders soon.

L V

Lucy
4.09 PM, 19 September 2009

Hi, I found a trapdoor today and apparently it was a Stanwellian Trapdoor but have found no information on them anywhere on the web?

Serena Marinucci

beachball
5.06 PM, 27 June 2009

Thank you Louise I know your comment was directed at peppercorn none the less I have taken advantage just the same. I would also like to point out that the CSIRO have thorough in depth scientific facts sheets available for anyone that wants to learn more.

Louise Kampen STAFF

Louise Kampen
2.06 PM, 26 June 2009

If you have a look in the Spiders' toolkit section you will be able to find information about spider body parts, web building and silk. Unfortunately we can't put this information on every page.

joshua marrinucci

peppercorn
2.06 PM, 26 June 2009

Unfortuntely mike gray the fact sheet here dosent inform other people about certain details of the trapdoor spiders body appearance such as where are the fanged jaws located in the head or how they get there talent to build and construct the webbing in the silk.

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Sydney Brown Trapdoor Spider, male

Sydney Brown Trapdoor Spider, male View full size
Mike Gray © Australian Museum

Trapdoor Spider Burrow with dry leaf litter and triplines

Trapdoor Spider Burrow with dry leaf litter and triplines View full size
Mike Gray © Australian Museum

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