Cool Things You Need To Know

• There is a species of Trapdoor Spider named after US President Barack Obama (Aptostichus barackobamai) and another species named after U2 singer, Bono (Aptostichus bonoi) – I am still waiting for them to name one after me
• This particular spider just happens to be in the same suborder as the famous (and scary) Tarantula – just imagine what those family reunions are like
• The Trapdoor Spider usually has something that looks like a “barb” on each of their fangs, which is used for digging and gathering soil

Why Would the Trapdoor Spider Need to Dig?

Unlike many other spiders, the Trapdoor Spider likes to build burrows and certain species will often build a trapdoor tunnel. What in the world is a “trapdoor tunnel”? Well, it is a tunnel that has a trapdoor at the top. Okay, that may seem like a pretty obvious definition so let me explain how this spider utilizes this tricky trapdoor contraption. You see, this spider doesn’t like to capture their prey with an elaborate spider web. No, they are for more creative. Instead, they build a chamber that has a camouflaged “trapdoor” at the top – interestingly, they actually use their silk to build hinges for this door, pretty clever!

When our featured spider is hungry it will hide behind this disguised door, holding onto it with their fangs, and wait patiently for an unsuspecting insect or other arthropod to trigger one of the silk warning lines set up around the door. Once the prey has been detected, the Trapdoor Spider will bolt out from their tunnel, grab the prey and drag it back inside for a tasty snack. Personally, I think this is way cooler than just setting up a web and waiting.

A Vicious Predator

Even though, these spiders seem scary and spend a lot of their time hidden behind their trapdoor, they still need to be on the lookout for predators. Spider Wasps are particularly vicious and will often seek out Trapdoor Spiders. Typically, this wasp will sting the unsuspecting home owner and then lay a single egg inside of them. Unfortunately when that egg hatches, the beast that is born will eat their spider host alive. I guess this just goes to show that you really can’t hide  – hmmm, maybe the Trapdoor Spider should take up running instead because clearly “You can run but you can’t hide”.