Observations on the lidless trapdoor spider, Cantuaria huttoni (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1879) (ARANEAE: IDIOPIDAE).

Burrows made by the lidless trapdoor spider Cantuaria huttoni were found in forested areas of eastern Otago, New Zealand, between Waianakarua, Kaka Point and Lawrence. In Dunedin – Ōtepoti, sites with a variety of canopy type, aspect, and slope were occupied, but sites without a forest cover and recently regenerated from having no forest cover, lacked spiders. Burrows were found at densities of up to 58 per m2 and the entrance diameter was correlated to the occupying spider's size. Spiders were observed at burrow entrances more often at night. Adult males were found to leave the burrows between October and December and were capable of travelling 5 m per night and estimated at a density of 0.1 per m2. Burrow entrances were sometimes webbed shut, particularly in January and June, possibly in response to temperature, rainfall, breeding and feeding. The amount of time spent closed and the annual increase in burrow size was similar for different burrow sizes.