Adelaide man’s picture of tiny hole in backyard sparks online debate

An Australian man has taken to social media to ask what creature created a small hole in his garden, leaving many reaching for their bug spray.

An Australian man has taken to social media to ask what creature created a small hole in his garden, leaving many reaching for their bug spray.

Posting in the Adelaide Discord sub-Reddit, the man from Adelaide Hills showed a hole the size of a 20 cent coin and asked if anyone ha`d any idea what it was.

“Can someone tell me what lives in here? Doesn’t look like [a] Trap Door Spider, they have a flap over the top,” he said.

The hole that left many scratching their heads and locking their doors. Picture: Reddit

He received a large response, with many believing that it was indeed the home of a trapdoor spider.

“That is probably a burrow of a trapdoor spider. Most species of trapdoor’s don’t actually build a door,” one person commented.

According to the Australian Museum, giving the spider the name trapdoor is misleading as “not all species make a door for their burrows”.

“Most trapdoor spiders, but not all, are misleadingly named, as not all species make a door for their burrows,” the Australian Museum states.

“For those species that do, these highly camouflaged entrances are almost undetectable, unless the door is open.”

Others disagreed and claimed it housed a wolf spider as, according to recent studies, the trapdoor spider population is declining due to land clearing.

“Absolutely a lycosidae spider burrow (wolf spider),” one Reddit user commented.

“Unfortunately in a lot of places trap doors are on the decline, the vast majority of burrows you find (everywhere from in your lawn to in native bush land) will be wolf spider burrows.”

Wolf spiders are described as robust, agile hunters that are commonly found in leaf litter or burrows and seen in lawns and gardens throughout Australia.

Trap Door Spider. Picture: Peter Wallis

A large wolf spider. Picture: Supplied.

While there has been no confirmation as to what lies within, news.com.au spoke with Taronga Zoo’s senior backyard to bush keeper, Paul Hare, who urged people to exercise caution.

“It’s always good to remain respectful of the creatures we live alongside,” he said.

“If you do see a spider, or a hole you might think be home to a spider or other invertebrate, the best course of action is to keep a safe distance. This helps keep you safe, and the spider comfortable.”

Regardless of which spider’s home is on display, it didn’t stop others from sharing their horror stories.

“Fished a wolf spider out of my pool once. She had hundreds of little babies on her back. It was adorable, in a horrifying sort of way,” one user wrote.

Others however, showed true Aussie behaviour and found the humour in it.

“Spiders probably paying $680 a week rent on that bad boy,” one person commented.

Originally published as Adelaide man’s picture of tiny hole in backyard sparks online debate