In the order Araneae, and with the scientific name Aphonopelma sp., tarantulas are the heaviest spiders by weight and come with a body length of about 40 mm (1 1/2 inches), making them easily recognizable. Usually, their head-thorax region and legs are a dark brown, with a brownish-black abdomen. The color can vary between individual spiders, though, and it definitely changes following a molt.
There are 14 different species in the genus Aphonopelma that are found in Texas. Identification of species is difficult and requires mature males, a microscope, proper informational resources, and experience.
Females construct a web into a hammock-like shape, into which they lay 100 to 1,000 eggs. The egg sac is retained in the burrow where the female lives, guarded, and is usually held by the female. The eggs hatch in 45 to 60 days, which comes out to sometime in July or a bit later. The spiderlings remain within the egg sac. Once they leave, they may stay with the females for 3-6 days before they all disperse.
Many of the young fall prey to other spiders or predators as they try to establish their own burrows. Males in Texas rarely live over two or three months after they reach maturity, but females have lived in captivity for over 25 years.
Like other spiders, tarantulas have “fangs” that inject venom into their prey. Spiders only ingest liquid food, but some do chew the food a bit while they feed. Tarantulas are common in Texas, mostly in grasslands and semi-open areas.
They use established burrows, natural holes under logs or stones, they may use the webbing to line the shelter, and they’re known to place a few lines of silk on the ground in front of the burrow to detect passing prey.
These spiders usually are restricted to the ground, but they can climb. Their usual MO is to remain in the burrow waiting for prey to come by, but they may come out a few meters to forage when necessary. They typically eat crickets, June beetles, ground beetles, grasshoppers, cicadas, and caterpillars.
Texas is home to one of the most spectacular spider events, when, for a few weeks each summer, males actively wander around, most likely looking for females. Still, this phenomenon isn’t yet well understood, and it may be related to migration more than to mating.
The large size and hairiness of tarantulas attracts people’s attention and concern, fearing what these “beasts” might do. However, the bites of Texas species aren’t usually serious to humans. When disturbed, they position themselves to face the threat, rise up on their hind legs, and stretch out their front legs in a threatening posture.
They may also rapidly brush the top of their abdomen with their hind legs. This dislodges urticating hairs from the spider’s abdomen, which irritate the skin or eyes of an attacker.
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