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Trapdoor spider nest

Stanwellia grisea

Description:

A large black spider is protecting her brood of spiderlings. They use trip lines of silk strands radiating from around the entrance of the burrow to detect prey. The burrow doesn't actually have a trap door, despite the name.

Habitat:

This was found under a small log. Common in suburban gardens around Melbourne http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/797...

Notes:

The Melbourne Trapdoor Spider has large fangs and can inflict a deep and painful wound, but the venom is not dangerous. http://www.csiro.au/Outcomes/Environment...

1 Species ID Suggestions

Melbourne Trap-door
Stanwellia grisea Melbourne Trap-door


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11 Comments

MartinL
MartinL 11 years ago

Thanks Atul and Argy Bee
And it looks like we'll have plenty more soon

Mark Ridgway
Mark Ridgway 11 years ago

No delsuion there Martin. I remember how shocked I was at the size. They ARE big.

Atul
Atul 11 years ago

lovely !

MartinL
MartinL 11 years ago

Thank you for the ID update Argy Bee. this sounds correct to me. It looked bigger and blacker to me, as spiders tend to do.

Mark Ridgway
Mark Ridgway 11 years ago

I just reID'd it to "Melbourne Trap-door"

Mark Ridgway
Mark Ridgway 11 years ago

Good one martin. She looks just like the one I dug up last year. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/797... ?

Leuba Ridgway
Leuba Ridgway 11 years ago

great spotting Martin.

ShannaB
ShannaB 11 years ago

Wow Martin, that is just awesome.

MartinL
MartinL 11 years ago

Thank you Phillip and Leanne.

LeanneGardner
LeanneGardner 11 years ago

Fantastic!

Nimbid Ditavi
Nimbid Ditavi 11 years ago

Amazing!

MartinL
Spotted by
MartinL

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Spotted on Jan 26, 2013
Submitted on Jan 26, 2013

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