Audouin's trapdoor spiders construct subterranean, silk-lined burrows sealed by a thick, bevel-edged door crafted from silk, moss, and soil. Females spend nearly their entire lives underground, detecting prey through vibrations transmitted across subtle silk trip lines before bursting outward to seize passing insects. Mature males abandon their burrows in warm summer months to search for mates, often crossing open lawns and driveways after rainstorms.
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyGround beetles, Crickets, Millipedes
Predators
Spider wasps
Shrews
Robins
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, lawn chemical applications, and soil compaction
HabitatsDeciduous woodlands, stream banks, gardens, and residential yards
Life spanFemales 10–15 years, males 2–3 years
Classification
OrderAraneae
FamilyHalonoproctidae
GenusUmmidia
SpeciesUmmidia audouini
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
Low
Moderate
High
Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Large fangs can deliver a painful pinch if handled roughly; observe without touching.
Why it is dangerous
Possesses prominent chelicerae capable of puncturing human skin when trapped against clothing or squeezed, causing brief localized pain and mild swelling.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognizable by a shiny black to dark mahogany carapace, robust front legs, and a stout, downward-curving pair of fangs.
What to do
Do not attempt to pick up spiders with bare hands; gently coax wandering individuals into an open container.
Responsible observation
Finding Burrows: Scan mossy, well-drained banks or undisturbed soil for circular, camouflaged hinged lids.
Indoor Encounters: Use a cup and stiff paper to relocate wandering adult males back into leaf litter outdoors.
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