Folding Door Trapdoor Spider Antrodiaetus

Description

The folding door trapdoor spider Antrodiaetus is a widespread genus of spiders. Current specimen has a 1/4 to 1/3 inch legspan (not sure, it is buried). I tend not to collect large ones since they can live for 20 to 30 years and despite there being thousands of them within a stone’s throw of me. Larger females have a job to do around here.

Folding Door Trapdoor Spiders, Antrodiaetus sp. (probably A. pacificus), are similar to the more familiar trapdoor spiders, though the mechanism for the opening to their burrow is apparently different, being pulled together in two parts rather than a hinged lid. Adult females can attain legspans in excess of an inch and a half, though the spider’s bulk is most impressive. Ultimate legspan exceeds an inch but they look so much larger on account of their sheer bulk! I suspect these spiders may live several decades (females). They probably reach sexual maturity well before they reach ultimate size. They are extremely common in areas where they occur, but very seldom seen by anybody.

In the video below the coverage of the species sold on this listing begins just after 13 minutes and then the end of the video shows a suggestion for how to set a tank up for trapdoor spiders.