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Arbanitis sp. trapdoor spider I found this spider clinging to my window fly-netting, exterior. Thought initially a male funnel web as I approached, but placed him on the patio tiles and I could see that was not his ID. He was weak and clearly on his last legs, but still defensive, raising the front legs and I could see his spurs visible in this image. <br /> <br /> He is a trapdoor spider in family Idiopidae and being a mygalomorph, exhibiting the similarity in appearance to a tarantula and our funnel web, also the defensive posturing, front legs raised etc. Totally out of place on the fly-netting &ndash; I took some shots then gently took him to some sheltered undergrowth beneath large conifers in the garden. I understand this is the time of year, high humidity, when male trapdoors are out looking for females and after mating, they die. <br /> <br /> Body length 20 mm Araneae,Arbanitis,Australia,Geotagged,Idiopidae,Mygalomorphae,Summer,arachnid,arthropod,fauna,invertebrate,macro,new south wales Click/tap to enlarge Promoted

Arbanitis sp. trapdoor spider

I found this spider clinging to my window fly-netting, exterior. Thought initially a male funnel web as I approached, but placed him on the patio tiles and I could see that was not his ID. He was weak and clearly on his last legs, but still defensive, raising the front legs and I could see his spurs visible in this image.

He is a trapdoor spider in family Idiopidae and being a mygalomorph, exhibiting the similarity in appearance to a tarantula and our funnel web, also the defensive posturing, front legs raised etc. Totally out of place on the fly-netting – I took some shots then gently took him to some sheltered undergrowth beneath large conifers in the garden. I understand this is the time of year, high humidity, when male trapdoors are out looking for females and after mating, they die.

Body length 20 mm

    comments (2)

  1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
    Ferdy Christant
    Lion
    View Lion class
    A most respectful capture and exit, well done! Posted 4 years ago
    1. View Ruth Spigelman's profile
      Ruth Spigelman
      Lion
      View Lion class
      Cheers Ferdy - I am certain he was close to passing away, but at least he was finally in an environment he knew, as opposed to clinging desperately to the fly netting. Posted 4 years ago

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View Ruth Spigelman's profile

By Ruth Spigelman

Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives
Uploaded Feb 2, 2021. Captured Jan 31, 2021 08:56 in 59 Merewether St, Merewether NSW 2291, Australia.
country flag of Australia Explore Australia 13,084 4,176 3
  • NIKON D850
  • f/16.0
  • 10/2500s
  • ISO250
  • 105mm
Captured in the summer. More summer photos.