Like Tarantulas, which are a type of Trapdoor spider, the common Trapdoor spiders are now quite rare in Southern California. Also like Tarantulas, they were sold as pets in the early 1900's. Their natural habitat has been almost completely urbanized, which is the main reason that they are fairly rare, and are now considered endangered.

Trapdoor spiders usually live on dry hillsides. They make a burrow that is about 6-10 inches deep and line it with papery silk. The entrance is capped with a tight-fitting lid-the "trap door." The spider can hold the lid shut with its fangs if necessary.

Females are a little over an inch in body length, while males are a little bit smaller-just under an inch. The female is black, but the males also have an orange-colored abdomen. They eat other insects, especially ground-crawling varieties. At night they wait for their prey to come within range of their trap door nest, and drag it inside.

Both Trapdoor spiders and Tarantulas are hunted themselves by Spider wasps, and skunks will dig up the nest to eat the spider which is found inside.

Life Cycle:

The male and female spider mate in the fall, and the female then lays several hundred eggs in the burrow. After the spiderlings hatch, they remain in the burrow over the winter, being cared for by their mother spider. They emerge in the spring and go out to create a new burrow.