Man terrified after discovering truth behind small spider hole in his garden

Australia is full of unique and sometimes dangerous creatures. So if you enjoy the outdoors, it’s a good idea to identify the animals around you. You’ll be able to steer clear of the risky species and let down your guard around the harmless ones. So when an Australian man found a suspicious-looking hole in his garden, he was eager to learn what it was. But he may not have wanted to hear about wolf spiders and trapdoor spiders.

“What lives in here?”

The hole was about the size of a 20 cent coin and looked perfectly symmetrical. So the gardener reached out to the Adelaide Discord subreddit for help. “I’m in Adelaide Hills,” he posted. “Can someone tell me what lives in here? Doesn’t look like [a] Trap Door Spider, they have a flap over the top.”

Many commenters offered advice but they became divided. One group believed the photo featured the nest of a trapdoor spider while others insisted it belonged to a wolf spider. 

“That is probably a burrow of a trapdoor spider,” one said. “Most species of trapdoors don’t actually build a door.” This fact was backed up by the Australian Museum, who said on their website: “Most trapdoor spiders, but not all, are misleadingly named, as not all species make a door for their burrows. For those species that do, these highly camouflaged entrances are almost undetectable, unless the door is open.”

“Absolutely a lycosidae spider burrow (wolf spider),” another person countered. “Unfortunately trap doors are on the decline, the vast majority of burrows you find (everywhere from in your lawn to in native bush land) will be wolf spider burrows.” Another agreed, saying, “I will never forget the time I tried to catch and release a large wolf spider under a container, only to find it was covered in 100s of baby wolf spiders – who were small enough to escape in all directions.”

But some maintained the original theory. “There are thousands of these holes in the park across from my house — they’re all trapdoor spiders,” wrote another commenter. “I get a kick whenever I see people sunbathing or sitting on the grass, blissfully unaware of the horror sitting below them.” 

As of now, there was no official confirmation of what kind of burrow it is. But in any case, it’s best to remain cautious. “It’s always good to remain respectful of the creatures we live alongside,” said Taronga Zoo’s senior keeper Paul Hare. “If you do see a spider, or a hole you might think be home to a spider or other invertebrate, the best course of action is to keep a safe distance. This helps keep you safe, and the spider comfortable.” [1] 

What are Wolf Spiders?

Wolf spiders are unique among their species because they don’t spin webs. Rather, they chase and attack prey like wolves. Once they catch them, they either mash the prey up or inject a venom to liquify the innards. Their creepy manner of hunting is matched by their appearance, which includes three rows of eight eyes. Their dark colors help them blend with their environment as they hunt or dodge predators. Other species of wolf spiders’ colors can range from brown to yellow to white to even pink.

Instead of webs, wolf spiders live in burrows or in holes they’ve dug under logs or rocks. In fact, they are so adaptable you can find this species almost anywhere, including rocky mountaintops, deserts, grasslands, rainforests, volcanoes, and of course, suburban lawns. They may even live inside human dwellings like garages, basements, and sheds. [2] 

But the good news is wolf spiders are not typically dangerous to humans. Their bite is not venomous but it might hurt because of the spiders’ large sizes. Symptoms usually include mild pain, itchiness, or swelling around the injured skin but this should improve over a few days. If you suspect you’ve been bitten, wash the wound and apply a cold compress for the swelling.

However, your bite might need medical attention if you experience an allergic reaction or contract an infection. These symptoms can include cramping and rashes around the bites, dizziness, fever, sweating, nausea, weakness, and trouble breathing. Keep in mind, wolf spiders are not aggressive and they’ll only bite when threatened. Plus, they might be beneficial to keep around your lawn because they eat pests like cockroaches, crickets, mealworms, and beetles. [3]

What are Trapdoor Spiders?

Trapdoor spiders are named after their unique skill of building trapdoors over the burrows. However, it’s also a misnomer because not all of the species make these doors. Rather, they camouflage the entrance of their homes. For example, Brown Trapdoor spiders dig their burrows without a cover, but Sifillate Trapdoor spiders use soil or litter to make their doors. 

This species is found all over Australia. And they tend to eat grasshoppers, moths, crickets, and beetles. The spiders wait for prey to creep near their burrow before pouncing on them. Their predators include birds, scorpions, bandicoots, centipedes and other insects. But because they hunt common garden pests, experts recommend leaving trapdoor spiders alone when found on urban lawns. Like wolf spiders, trapdoor spider bites are not dangerous. They typically cause some local pain and swelling although some people might suffer from an allergic reaction or an infection as a result. [4]

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