I seem to recall that there is one species of spider that lives in a hole in the ground

At least one. The term dates back at least to the VietNam war. The original definition was a hidey-hole made for the purpose of lying in wait for a victim to ambush. The technique was used by the Japanese in WWII, but it is uncertain if the term was used at the time. The usage in reference to a hidey-hole for purposes of evading capture seems to be an extended meaning, but the term "rat hole" has also been used to describe the Saddam situation.

The metaphor of the spider hole is from the actions of the trap door spider.

http://www.everythingabout.net/articles/biology/animals/arthropods/arachnids/spiders/trap-door_spider/