Subject: Large black spider with a large single white spot
Location: Oak Island, NC
September 8, 2013 11:29 am
Found this near our water spigot in Oak Island, NC. Just curious what it is. It moves fairly quick and has a size of a walnut.
Signature: Amanda
Dear Amanda,
We recognized your spider as a Trapdoor Spider, but we cannot recall seeing an individual with the white markings. We searched the BugGuide archives of the genus Ummidia and found this matching photo. There is a comment on that posting that indicates it is not a dangerous spider, but it might bite if carelessly handled. According to BugGuide, they: “Dig tunnel in ground and seal with a silk-hinged lid. They hide under this lid and make forays out when prey is sensed, presumably by vibration. Males are often found wandering in late spring, presumably looking for mates.”