Quirky NZ spider at risk from rising rain

One of our most reclusive critters, the rain-hating trapdoor spider, has become the latest native species singled out by scientists as threatened by climate change.

Named for their quirk of springing out from concealed burrows to capture unsuspecting prey, trapdoor spiders are today found across the country.

But a Lincoln University researcher says models of future climate change are bad news for the insects, threatening populations on the West Coast, and in Tasman, Central Otago and Southland with increased rainfall and making them less habitable.

“The spiders were more likely to be present where the rainfall was below 1000mm per year, and no populations were found in areas with more than 3000mm per year,” Dr Vikki Smith said.

“They can cope with brief periods of intense rainfall, but constant high levels may cause harmful fungus to grow quickly in their burrows, or it may affect their ability to catch prey.

“I have noticed that trapdoor spiders will not catch prey on rainy nights.”