What is this?

Male California Trapdoor spider. Trapdoor spiders have a unique method of catching prey- They make a cryptic web, disguised with debris and dirt. When something walks over, or lands on their trap, they rush out and pull their victim inside to it's doom.

Males have modified pedipalps that have special hooks that are used in mating. Trapdoor spiders belong to the Mygalomorph family, among the oldest, most primitive spiders on earth. Chances are, all the spiders you encounter will be males searching for warmth, or a mate.

Male California Trapdoor spider. Its cool what they do! They build webs under ground and when something walks on it or by it it leaps on it then takes it back 2 its nest and eats it. Its AWSOME!!!!! I have one myself. If you caught another one and want 2 breed it my e-mail is godzilla8594@yahoo.com

I actually let it go in the vacant lot next to my house because (a) I didn't know what kind of spider it was; (b) I didn't know how to care for it; and (c) my husband is afraid of spiders. I hope it found food and spidery love there!