Trapdoor spiders eat beetles, crickets, ants, millipedes, and other ground-dwelling invertebrates, and the larger species sometimes catch small lizards or frogs. They are ambush hunters that wait inside a silk-lined burrow with a hinged lid and grab whatever walks past.
How a Trapdoor Spider Catches Food
The spider digs a burrow in the soil, lines it with silk, and fits it with a hinged door made of soil, silk, and plant material that blends in with the ground around it. Some species lay trip-lines of silk out from the door. The spider sits just inside, holding the lid slightly open, and feels for vibrations. When an insect brushes the door or a line, the spider springs out, grabs it, and drags it down into the burrow to eat.
What Trapdoor Spiders Eat
- Beetles and crickets: a staple in most habitats.
- Ants and cockroaches: eaten when they walk past the door.
- Millipedes and other spiders: taken on the ground nearby.
- Small vertebrates: big species sometimes catch small lizards or frogs.
Life in the Burrow
Trapdoor spiders spend almost all their time underground. Females seldom leave their burrows and can live a very long time. One female Australian trapdoor spider was recorded living for more than 40 years, one of the longest spider lifespans ever measured. Males leave their burrows when they are mature to search for a female, which is when they are most often seen.
After mating, a female lays eggs in a silk chamber in her burrow. The young stay inside for a while, then disperse to dig burrows of their own.
Are They Dangerous?
Most trapdoor spiders are not dangerous to people and bite only if handled or pushed. Some Australian species can give a painful bite. If you are bitten, wash the area, apply a cold pack, and see a doctor if there is intense pain, swelling, or other symptoms.
Keeping One as a Pet
Trapdoor spiders are rarely kept as pets, and in many places wild ones are protected. If you do see a burrow in your yard, leave it alone. These spiders are slow-growing and slow to recover if disturbed.
For other spiders that live near your home, see what funnel-web spiders eat and what cobalt blue tarantulas eat.
Bottom Line
Trapdoor spiders eat beetles, crickets, ants, millipedes, and other spiders, ambushed from a hidden burrow door. They live for years, rarely bite people, and are best left undisturbed.
This is general information, not medical advice.
