.jpg)
This Desert Tarantula, Aphonopelma chalcodes, the first I’ve ever seen, measured just less than 2 inches. Females, up to 2.75 inches with a 4 inch leg span, are typically a little bigger than males. And I didn’t ask what sex it was but read that males are usually black and females brown.
According to the Audubon Guide, the male spider wanders in the dim light after sunset or near dawn searching for a mate, and then hides by day in abandoned holes or under stones. Mike uncovered this tarantula while digging in a pile of gravel.
.jpg)
Tarantulas take up to 10 years to reach sexual maturity. The male tries to maintain contact with the female and if she moves away, he aggressively pursues his desired mate. Females may live up to 20 years.
Tarantulas are reluctant to attack people and this one seemed cold and slow. Usually the venom is no more poisonous than that of bees but I wouldn’t risk that by picking it up.
According to the Audubon Guide, the male spider wanders in the dim light after sunset or near dawn searching for a mate, and then hides by day in abandoned holes or under stones. Mike uncovered this tarantula while digging in a pile of gravel.
.jpg)
Tarantulas take up to 10 years to reach sexual maturity. The male tries to maintain contact with the female and if she moves away, he aggressively pursues his desired mate. Females may live up to 20 years.
Tarantulas are reluctant to attack people and this one seemed cold and slow. Usually the venom is no more poisonous than that of bees but I wouldn’t risk that by picking it up.
I like your furry friend although I too might hesitate to pick him/her up! As a kid I was always picking up spiders, bugs and snakes until I was told it was not what girls did….what a shame, probably would have been an entomologist now. Great post and I knew that walk in the wash would reveal great delights.
Thanks for sharing and have a great weekend.
Smiles
What a neat find! I love spiders!! Yeah, I probably wouldn't pick it up either. My guess is that a spider from the wild would be less tolerant of handling than a pet.
Oh, she's purdy!!!
I prefer to see them in photos! Thank you, Gaelyn, for providing these great photos…
Gaelyn, my husband and both our sons would not even be able to view the image on the computer screen! Fascinating post. It's so sad that in South Africa people tend to kill spiders first and ask questions afterwards…
Back in the days when I worked in the AZ desert, we used to catch these bad boys and race them. The kids LOVED it.
Cool post. Many good shots of the hairy spider. Fascinating. MB
Wow, Gaelyn. I've always wanted to see a tarantula, but it seems I'll have to enjoy her from afar with your blog. She's very pretty, for a spider that is! Less than 2"? They're always larger in horror flicks – ha! Beautiful, simply beautiful!
Looks like something Grissom would like on CSI LOL
I had no idea they could live that long! I once was putting on my boots and one was inside!!! I must admit, I don't miss them too much… Great photos and info, Gaelyn.
Wow, that's a cool looking critter. Interesting to learn more about tarantulas. I had no idea they lived so long.
Very interesting. We have had quite a number of small taratulas in the back yard for about 10 years. They don't bother us, we don't bother them. I love it when I see them though.
OMG I am so outta here!!
That is certainly a fun find. Whenever, I would walk through the desert, I would often imagine them in some of the many holes that litter the desert floors. My favourite creature though in these sort of holes and chambers are the kangaroo rats. They are pretty cute.
What a wonderful find Gaelyn. It is a beauty!! That is a long time till sexual maturity and I wonder why as usually it is only about 2-4 years. They sure do live to be old though.
What a beauty! Not that I would particularly like to have him resident in by bed- or any other room. I'll stick to my huntsman in every room, they are much better mosquito controllers than fly spray.
Nice find! The tarantulas around are more brownish in color. I don't usually see them until summer monsoon season.
Interesting post, Gaelyn – don't worry, I won't pick it up! We saw a large Tarantula in the fall on a Denver bike path. I leaned over the bike to take a photo, and it scurried away so quickly, I nearly fell over in surprise.
I love tarantulas! I've only seen them in Nevada twice (and a third time in a jar, someone had capturd one). We used to see them en masse crossing a back paved road in the California Coast Ranges. We called it their "migration" – but I don't really know what they were all doing.
Those are really cool shots in kind of a creepy way.
What a special find! Bernie and I saw a tarantula while hiking the Continental Divide Trail. It was fun to watch it, and then it stood up on its hind legs when we got too close. Pretty neat!
Gaelyn: Wonderful photos of the scary spider.
Wow that is long living..I didn't know that..how fascinating..
I just had the most awesome shiver down my spine.