how can i collect trapdoor spiders?

[lychas]

i live in australia and near me we have an area and find a few trapdoor burrows only small but i would like 2 collect what ever is in them, i dont want to dig them up because i dont know which way the burrow goes, could i flush them out with water?

John

 

[El Johano]

I usually find some small insect of some sorts, slower specimens of beetles roaches or millipeds work best. Sometimes tickeling with grass etc. work, but not for all species, tarantulas are easily fooled but for example funnelwebs are more tricky.
Then you put the insect near the enrance and wait for the spider to feel the vibrations and come out and grab it. When it does grab the spider with a pair of long tweezers. This requires some training though, so that you don't hurt the spider, and you have to be quick.

There are other ways, tying a string to the bait and "fish" for example, haven't tried this myself so I don't know if it works well.

 

[lychas]

insted of grabbing it with tweezers when it come out i was thinking just scooping the burrow entrance out alon with the spider

 

[Gigas]

water with a thin cloth bag over th top with a wire ring around the neck, make sure itts narrow, u may have to make one. anyway the idea is the spider continues up it like it was its tunnel pour water in usins a squeezy bottle with a straw. i hear they use this in tanzania.

 

[lychas]

so the water method should work? I just dont want to gid, 2 easy 2 kill the spider and you dont know which way the burrow goes