(I would reproduce photos, but am unwilling to engage in anything that could be construed as copyright infringement for photos I didn't take.)Īs you can see, they resemble other mygalomorph spiders I've written about previously, like the Sydney Funnel-Web, because they share traits common to a lot of mygalomorph spiders (tarantulas included), such as heavy bodies, shape, fang structure, etc. But if I did and I managed to dig one up, here's what I'd find. I know the general vicinity of where to find some around Pasadena, but havent actually ventured out there to go look for them.
Out here where I live in Southern California, the Bothriocyrtum californicumis found scattered among our hillsides.
And the likelihood is that if you live anywhere in the Southern half of the United States, you've passed right by them and haven't even known. There are trapdoor spiders spread all over the world-they're found on every continent. Now, before you watch this video, see if you can identify at all where the trapdoor is! I'll bet you can't. Case in point: this member of the Barychelidae family, native to Africa. When an unfortunate insect happens to pass by, the trapdoor feels the vibrations of the passing insect, opens the door, snatches it and retreats back to the burrow to enjoy its lunch-all in one lightning quick motion. The slightly smaller males rear up on their hind legs, exposing their fangs to perceived threats.Now, first things first: why are they called trapdoor spiders? Well, that one's easy: it's because they live in burrows underneath the ground, and the burrows have a lid with a hinge that acts as a trapdoor. Trapdoor spiders reach 3 inches across and have black, shiny bodies with hairy legs. They build silken tunnels in soft soil and close them with a lid of soil held together with silk. Trapdoor spiders are a little more secretive in their habits. They can be kept as pets and females have been documented to live for up to 30 years in captivity, with males only surviving two or three years. Their bite can be painful, but isn’t considered medically important. They have brown bodies and black abdomens and are generally considered to be harmless. Texas Brown Tarantulas grow up to 4 inches across and are covered with stiff, bristly hairs. The males of both species go roaming for mates and will also appear on the surface in response to being flooded out of their burrows. Both of these spiders are welcome predators in the landscape, feeding on cockroaches, grasshoppers, crickets, small mammals, other spiders and generally anything smaller than they are. With the increase in recent rainfall and onset of some cooler temperatures, many local San Antonio neighborhoods are seeing an increase in the appearance of Texas brown tarantulas (Aphonopelma hentzi) and a local trapdoor spider called Ummidia.īut fear not. Wait? What? How did this go from beautiful, crisp and cool, to dark, hairy and creepy? Late summer and fall in San Antonio marks a time when cooler temperatures filter in, beautiful days with high skies bring smiles to our faces, and the tarantulas and trapdoor spiders go roaming for food and mates. With the recent rainfall and onset of cooler temperatures, many San Antonio neighborhoods are seeing an increase of arachnids in their gardens.
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