TARANTULAS
COMMON NAMES: Tarantula, Bird Spider, Aranas peludas (Hairy Spiders).
SCIENTIFIC NAME: family Theraphosidae
DESCRIPTION: ADULTS - Large, hairy and fearsome looking spiders, sometimes growing 3 to 6 inches across the legs. They tend to be grey or brown and some have red or orange markings. SPIDERLINGS - Miniature versions of adults.
LIFE CYCLE: Tarantulas are solitary creatures. Each individual lives in its own silk-lined burrow in the ground or under a pile of rocks. From June through October, the mature (8-10 years old) males leave their burrows and "go for a walk" looking for a female to mate with. They are frequently seen crossing roads and may even enter houses in this search. After mating is accomplished, the male travels on and may live for another year if not preyed upon before then. The female will tunnel under large stones and spin a silk bag for the eggs. She guards them for the 6-7 weeks it takes to hatch. In due time, the spiderlings leave the maternal burrow and establish their own homes a short distance away. Under optimum conditions females may live for up to 15-20 years.
NATURAL PREY: These spiders are a real boon to the gardener as they eat most any large insect they can pounce upon, including the hard-to-control crickets and grasshoppers.
TIME OF YEAR: Tarantulas are active from spring through late fall. In the cold of the winter, the entrance to the spider's burrow is often plumed with soil and plant debris held together with silk strands. In this part of the country, most sightings seem to coincide with the coming of the summer rains.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Although relatively large, these animals are seldom seen except for the males on their mating walks. They hunt mostly during the hours of darkness and generally avoid contact with humans. Their silk-lined burrows may be found at the edge of cleared areas or in piles of stones.
PROBLEMS AND/OR DAMAGE: Most humans just plain don't like spiders, especially large hairy ones! It seems to be almost instinctive to say "UGH" and want to do them in. Tarantulas are beneficial predators and an asset to the home gardener. They can even make gentle and educational pets in certain situations, but are best left in their natural surroundings and observed from a distance. Problems can arise when people harass the creatures or try to pick them up without proper instruction. When frightened, a tarantula will rear up on its haunches and show its fangs in an attempt to scare the attacker away. If this doesn't work, it may try to bite. Given the size and strength of its mouthparts, this spider can inflict a very painful bite. Although the Arizona spices are considered non-toxic to humans, their venom, though mild, may cause a reaction in sensitive persons (like with bee or wasp stings). At the very least, it will hurt like the dickens, and may require a tetanus shot.