Trapdoor Spider: Characteristics, Life Cycle, and Prevention

A trapdoor spider belongs to such families as Ctenizidae, Idiopidae, and Migidae. It can exist in a wool-lined hole, covered by a trapdoor of earth and young plants. Such spiders are secretive and non-aggressive to human beings.

On 19 April 2018, research led by Leanda Mason of Curtin University in the School of Molecular and Life Sciences was published in Pacific Conservation Biology that Volume 16, a female trapdoor spider lived 43 years in one burrow, a process which she estimates began at around one hundred days after her birth.

Secretive habits and nest loyalty make these spiders seldom observed and little known.

What are the Physical Characteristics of Trapdoor Spiders

Here are the physical characteristics of trapdoor spiders:

1. Size: Trapdoor spiders are 2-4 cm in body size, depending on the species. They are tiny in their measurements compared to those of tarantulas, yet they look lightweight due to their compact size.
2. Color: These spiders are brown, black, or reddish-brown in color and are covered with useful pigments that help them blend in well with soil or leaf litter where they construct their burrows.
3. Body: They have a bulky build with large legs that enable them to dig holes and seal burrow entrances. This causes them to be small tarantulas.
4. Fangs: They possess strong fangs to kill insects and small invertebrates, but bites in humans are extremely rare because these spiders prefer to avoid conflict.

Where Do Trapdoor Spiders Live?

Here are the three habitats of trapdoor spiders:

1. Habitat: Trapdoor spiders live in warm tropical and subtropical areas, with soft soil to burrow and moisture to keep the tunnels open.
2. Location: These are their habitats: these spiders live in forests, deserts, and grasslands, and adapt to different land conditions, provided the soil is appropriate.
3. Burrow: This is their burrow: they construct a hinged, silk-lined trapdoor, packed earth, and leaf tunnels. This covering protects them against hunters and their victims.

What Do Trapdoor Spiders Eat?

Here are the eating habits of trapdoor spiders:

1. Diet: Trapdoor spiders are predators, and their diet includes insects, beetles, grasshoppers, and other small arthropods. They do not chase their prey but prefer to use stealth.
2. Hunting Method: These spiders are trap-door hunters. They remain concealed within their burrows until they feel a vibration near the trapdoor, and then strike out to catch the prey in the blink of an eye.

What is the Life Cycle of a Trapdoor Spider

Here is the lifecycle of a trapdoor spider:

1. Eggs: In the trapdoor spider, the eggs are located in a protective sac of silk in the nest to protect them against prey and severe climatic conditions.
2. Spiderlings: Spiderlings live in the burrow a little before leaving to construct individual retreats.
3. Lifespan: According to species and environmental surroundings, these spiders survive 5-20 years.

What is the Behavior of Trapdoor Spiders

Here is the behavior of trapdoor spiders:

1. Nocturnal: Trapdoor spiders are also nocturnal, meaning that they spend their days concealed and emerge at night to hunt in the darkness.
2. Reclusive: These animals are elusive and only emerge from the nest when necessary to mate.
3. Defense: Upon sensing that danger is near, they move down into the burrow and seal the trapdoor to the outside.

How to Prevent Trapdoor Spider Encounters

Here are the ways to prevent trapdoor spider encounters:

1. Install Door Sweeps: Install weather stripping on doors. These strips seal the tiny gaps at the feet level, which are used by ground spiders to crawl behind without notice.
2. Use Fine Mesh Screens: Cover the vents and drains using fine mesh screens. This prevents the migration of spiders through the areas behind the walls in the secondary connection between outside and inside.
3. Limit Mulch and Ground Cover: Limit mulch and ground cover by maintaining a thin layer of mulch and not covering home foundations with it. The thicker the layers, the more you get at places which are dark and damp, where the spiders can be nearer to the wall.
4. Elevate Woodpiles: Raise woodpiles by storing firewood off the ground and away from house walls. The raised stacks are dry and eliminate dark waterholes where spiders hide undisturbed.
5. Inspect Outdoor Items: Examine the exterior objects like the pots, tools, and gardening materials before they are brought indoors. Spiders are often attracted to these objects, which contain soil or leaf litter.
6. Clear Debris Near Walls: Clear the debris close to walls by picking stones, logs, or dense vegetation cover around the walls of buildings. Clear environments prevent the creation of secret webs against the base.

Are Trapdoor Spiders Dangerous to Humans?

Trapdoor spiders hardly ever bite human beings, because they spend their days hidden in holes. Bites only happen when they are trampled upon or mishandled. When they bite, the resultant symptoms are mild pain and minimal swelling, and there are no long-term effects. They make their venom to overpower insects and other small meals, not individuals. It only brings temporary irritation at most and is not associated with serious health issues. The spiders do not like direct contact with humans but rather lurk behind the scenes.