Trapdoor spiders often emerge from their burrows after rain - but why?
Newly matured male spiders emerge from their burrows and go looking for a mate, after spending anywhere from three to seven years living exclusively underground.
If you live in the micro-world, moist soil is perfect for digging in - so many types of juvenile trapdoor spider emerge after rains to start excavating their own private burrows. It's important for them to find a good spot, as they will stay there for life!!
This Mouse Spider (
Missulena spp.) was walking along with purpose under some Jam (
Acacia accuminata) trees down by the Avon River in Northam. He seems to know where to go, but he'd better look out - there's an army of obstacles for him to avoid, like:
- large hungry centipedes looking for a bite to eat,
- cunning wasps who would might carry them away;
- sharp eyed magpies and butcher birds who watch for tasty spiders at dawn and dusk, and
- racehorse goanna's and bandicoot's who can dig them out of their burrows!
No wonder he's moving so fast!
So, if you see a big spider walking along the ground this winter/autumn, spare a thought for the hard times it has overcome to get that far and take a moment to watch it go along on it's way.
Do feel free to take a picture though, and send it to
info@wheatbeltnrm.org.au so Wheatbelt NRM can help you find out a bit more about it.
The last one we had someone ask us about was a brand new species all together!
