![]() These parts are used for shaping their web silk and assisting them in feeding, but also for reproduction in males. Photo courtesy of Jon Richfield, via Wikimedia Commons.Īlthough they may resemble a fifth pair of legs, enlarged mouthparts called ‘pedipalps’ are specialized in all spiders, like the chelicerae. These tiny projections resemble teeth or hairs, and are designed to help move the soil as the spider constructs its underground burrow.Ĭork-lid Trapdoor spider burrow saved intact in baking powder tin ca. In trapdoor spiders, these mouthparts are modified with a row of hardened digging spines on each chelicera called a ‘rastellum’. Arachnids and their other cousins in the subphylum Chelicerata, including horseshoe crabs and sea spiders, possess specialized jaws called ‘chelicerae’. Spiders have many interesting adaptations for survival in a world that is often harsh to such small creatures. If you find one in your home, it’s best to capture it in a container such as a jar and release it outdoors. These arachnids are not aggressive and will only bite people in self-defense. The trapdoor spider is venomous like most spiders, but its venom is comparable to a wasp sting, causing only minor pain and swelling. Due to their elusive nature, these masters of camouflage are not well studied in this area. Although they are elusive, trapdoor spiders are considered common and can be found in your own backyard. Trapdoor spiders can be found all over the world, including species in the genus Ummidia and one known species in the genus Cyclocosmia in North Carolina. Like the tarantula, the trapdoor spider is a mygalomorph, a member of a smaller group of spiders characterized by downwards-oriented fangs. Photo courtesy of Greg Gilbert from Dahlonega Area, Georgia, USA, via Wikimedia Commons. Cork-lid trapdoor spider (Ctenizidae: Ummidia).
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