FAMILY CTENIZIDAE

Tube Spider - Dyarcyops robertsi
This spider inhabits rain forest country.  It is unique among the trap-door spiders as it builds a long tube extension above its burrow.  The tube extends above the ground for 15-20cm, and is fastened to a rock, tree or fern.  It then remains unattached as far as the burrow entrance to which the other end is fastened.  The tube is camouflaged to match whatever it is fastened to at the top, be it tree, fern or rock - even lichens are attached to the tube if present.

The burrow continues from the bottom of the tube into the ground for about 10cm and is silk lined to this point.  Then there is a break in the silk lining for about 2cm from where it continues for another 20cm which is all silk lined, the last 6-7cm being of hard papery silk.  Should the tube be pulled out of the ground, it breaks at the unlined point, this leaving the spider safe in the lower half of the burrow.

description
Body length: male up to 17mm, female up to 27mm.   
Colour: female as in photo, male a little darker
Identification: by tube attached to the top of the burrow
Egg sac: of rectangular shape, 24mm x 15mm, of white silk suspended in burrow of female.
Eggs: a rich golden-yellow in colour 50 in number, non-glutinous..
Burrow: straight or slightly inclined, no brood shaft present
Food: moths, beetles and other insects
Dimorphism: male smaller in body and longer in legs than the female
 

Tube Spider - Dyarcyops Robertsi

Tubes of spider tied to a rock
 

Brown Trap-door Spider - Dyarcyops robertsi

also referred to as the Sydney Trap-door
This spider is sometimes referred to as the Sydney Trap-door, though it builds no door to its burrow.  It is common in Sydney suburbs, its range extending westwards as far as the mountains.  The burrow may be found on level ground, or in banks and slopes.  Sometimes the mouth of the burrow extends about one inch above ground level.  This species is not known to be dangerous to man.

description
Body length: male up to 17-19mm, female up to 25mm.   
Colour: as in photo, though sometimes darker on the abdomen
Identification: by photograph and lack of lid on burrow
Egg sac: rectangular shape, suspended in burrow of female.
Eggs: opaque yellow in colour, 2mm in diameter, 35- 50 in number, non-glutinous..
Burrow: up to 40cm deep, oblique, silk lined, occasionally with a brood shaft
Food: moths, crickets, beetles, cockroaches and slaters, all captured in the vicinity of the burrow at night
Dimorphism: male smaller in body and longer in legs than the female
Young stay in the burrow with the female for several months then disperse to dig their own tine burrows, usually after rain.  Food debris is stored in the bottom of the burrow.

Dyarcyops robertsi - Female

Burrow entrance

Mouse Spider - Missulena insignis
A widespread species which is found right across the continent.  This species is sometimes found wandering during daylight hours whereas most mygalomorphs are nocturnal.  It is most frequently found in open forest country.  The burrows of this species have two doors to the entrance and a "brood chamber" on one side of the main shaft which also has to door to it.

description
Body length: male up to 12m, female up to 22mm.   
Colour: male as in photo, female dark brown to black.
Identification: by by broad carapace across which the small red eyes are spread and short thick legs
Burrow: vertical, oval at the top, round at the bottom, up to 30cm deep, broad shaft with vertical door
Food: native snails and insects
Dimorphism: male smaller and slimmer than the female
 

Missulena insignis - Male