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Tarantulas
Tarantulas are very wonderful and interesting creatures. There are many species of spiders but I'm very partial to tarantulas. I currently have
four of my own and they fascinate me. In the wild tarantulas are found in mostly warm regions. They are also known as bird spiders or monkey spiders. Tarantulas make up the family of
Theraphosidae. Funnel web and trap door spiders are also sometimes grouped as tarantulas. The term tarantula refers to about 300 species of spiders, some of which can weigh 2 to 3 ounces and can have a 10 inch leg span. Most tarantulas are very lazy and will not bite unless they are bothered. Bites of tarantulas can be very painful. Their fangs are very large and can pierce the skin of a human very easily. In their normal habitat, they live in burrows in the ground. Females can deposit from 500 to 1000 eggs in a silk sac, she will guard the eggs for six to seven weeks. The young will stay in the nest for a few weeks after hatching. Tarantulas do not live in colonies or even as a pair because they do eat each other. Pink toed tarantulas are the only ones that I have ever heard of living together. Tarantulas live for many years. Most require 10 years to mature to adult size. Some females have been known to live up to 25 years in captivity
and have survived on water alone for 2 1/2 years. When they molt they are able to regenerate any lost limbs that they may have lost due to injuries. Most
tarantulas have a dense covering of stinging hairs on their abdomen to protect themselves from their enemies. I know first hand that when the tiny, almost microscopic hairs are flicked at you, they stick to your skin and will cause massive itching. The hairs can be removed by running tape across your skin. Tarantulas do make wonderful pets and are very fascinating to watch. I choose to leave mine undisturbed and simply observe them.
The tarantula hawk
is deadly to a tarantula. The spider is subdued by her paralyzing sting,
then she will lay a single egg on the spider, the developing larvae will
then feed on the spider. The spider is only paralyzed and not dead when
its being eaten.
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