Having a trapdoor spider living in your garden can mean having a spiderly neighbour for many years! They are incredibly long-lived, with oldest wild trapdoor spider reaching over 40 years old.
Will they visit?: They can establish a home in a garden located near large reserves
Natural Distribution: Common and widespread throughout the South West and Perth region
Mygalomorphae – Loxley Fedec (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Mygalomorphae – Ry Beaver (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Idiopidae – Jean and Fred (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Idiosoma – Bill & Mark Bell (CCBYNCSA).jpeg
Habitat at a Glance
See Habitat Guide for more detail
Shelter: Their burrows can be rather intricate with several entrances cloaked with fine silk lines to act as sensors for potential prey.
Diet: Invertebrates and small animals
Water: Not required
ReWild Benefit: Pest Control
Habitat Guide - Shelter
Natural Shelter
Female spiders build their burrows with the intention on staying for many years and raise their future young. They stay in the burrow and usually do not roam around the garden.
Males venture out and look for breeding females. Both males and females are generally peaceful when left alone.
Novel Shelter
Not required.
Habitat Guide - Food and Water
Providing natural sources of food
A female will look for gardens with good dense vegetation or good leaf litter to ensure adequate camouflage and copious amounts of potential prey.
Providing sources of water
Not required.
ReWild Benefits
Spiders help to control pests around the home garden. Controlling pests (such as cockroaches, crickets, even baby mice) benefit our neighbourhoods as we work to drive a healthy environment for our community. If you see a spider, you can record your sighting on the Atlas of Living Australia and help scientists monitor populations. It is also a great place to find the name of different spider species.
