MYGALOMORPH SPIDERS
Biology
- Known as Tarantulas
- Large hairy bodies can be up to 3 inches in length or longer and spread of legs can be more than 5 inches (among species found in the US).
- Largest species of spiders found in the United States
- Jaws move vertically.
- Species found in the United States have abundant, short, kinked hairs covering the abdomen.
- The ends of the legs have only 2 claws, and a claw tuft is present.
- Generally brown or blackish in color
Distribution/Habits
- Tarantulas are primarily seen in the southwest United States.
- They often live in colonies, but they are not social.
- Nocturnal creatures for the most part, they hide during the day inside burrows and other shelters.
- Young tarantulas molt about once a year.
- Male tarantulas molt into adults usually at 5-7 years of age. Shortly after maturing, males search for a female with which to mate.
- females continue to molt once a year until death.
- Mating occurs in the fall; males die a short time after mating.
- Females remain in the burrow after molting into an adult until mating occurs. Adult
- Females produce a sac that contains 800-850 eggs.
- Female tarantulas have a very long life span: up to 20 years or more.
- They are not seriously poisonous to people, but their bite can be painful.
- Tarantulas have a habit of using their hind legs to scrape hairs off the end of the abdomen and use these hairs to defend themselves. The allergic response to hairs in contact with human skin can cause greater discomfort than their bite.
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