Show spiders invented hinges before the time of man in making a home or nest the trapdoor spider digs into the earth biting the soil and forcing bits of it upward with her legs the hole is dug to a depth dept h of sev several eral inches and then it is lined all around with silk which the spider spins the lid is made of layers of soil often sand and layers of spider silk it is firmly made and is of circular shape one third or one fourth of it is fastened to an edge a of f the hole closing the trapdoor the spider has a snug home for herself and her young the top of the trapdoor is covered in such a way that it matches the ground above sometimes it is covered with moss the trapdoor can be lifted a lit little tle bit so the spider can peep out and see whether any insects are close by if one is in reach the spider runs out catches it and drags it in no outside web is spun by the trapdoor spiders for no web is needed enough game is obtained by laying in wait trapdoor spiders have enemies of their own declares a writer in the cleveland plain dealer and must be on their guard against them we are told that if an enemy tries to lift the lid the spider clings to it on the side opposite to the hinge if the enemy is strong enough to lift it anyway the spider still may be able to escape often there is a tunnel from the nest to another trapdoor and this can be used as a means of getting away |