The spider order includes a large number of various families. One of the most famous is wolf spiders. Its representatives are particularly large in size, can leave painful bites on the human body, and live in almost all arid regions.
The tarantula is considered one of the most common spiders of this family. This carnivorous arthropod is a popular pet due to its unusual appearance. This article will discuss the existing types of tarantulas, the peculiarities of their life activity, the principles of keeping them at home and methods of removing them from a summer cottage.
What are tarantulas: what do they look like, where are they found, what do they eat, are they dangerous to humans
In total, the genus of tarantulas includes more than two hundred species. Vary depending on the type external characteristics arthropod and its effect on humans. Contrary to popular misconceptions, the question of whether an insect is a tarantula or not can only be answered in the negative.
Tarantulas are classified as arachnids. To understand who a tarantula is, it is necessary to obtain information about its life principles and habitats.
Important! Despite their terrifying appearance, these arthropods are extremely fragile. They are much more sensitive than wasps and bees, so even a fall from a small height or light pressure can lead to cracking of their exoskeleton and death.
Apulian
What it looks like. Known as the "king of spiders", it reaches a length of 10 cm - it is one of the most major representatives everyone existing species. The cephalothorax is powerful, slightly pubescent, dark in color and highlighted by a light belt. 
On the front part of the cephalothorax there are four pairs of eyes of different sizes - exactly the same as in ordinary spiders, and chelicerae with poisonous glands. The abdomen of males is dark in color; in females it is red, covered with dark stripes with light edges - several transverse and a thin longitudinal one. There are eight paws, each approximately 15 cm long.
Where it is found. Mainly in the south of Europe - in Portugal, Spain, on the coast of Italy.
What does it eat? This is a predatory arthropod that feeds on large and small insects. Prefers dragonflies, flies, bees and wasps.
Is it dangerous? The bite of this spider is painful, but does no harm.
What it looks like. Commonly called mizgir, this spider ranges from 2.5 to 3 cm in length. Some individuals reach a length of 5–6 cm. The body is wide, covered with thick hair. 
The abdomen of males and females is gray with black speckles, and there are red markings on the body. The legs are long, have a segmented structure, from 8 to 12 cm long. The Central Russian and Siberian tarantula are considered similar to it.
Where it is found. It lives in a dry climate, so it is often found in the south of Russia, Ukraine and in the territory Central Asia.
What does it eat? Beetles and orthopteran insects such as grasshoppers, locusts and crickets.
Is it dangerous? In some cases, a bite can trigger an allergic reaction and swelling.
Crimean
What it looks like. Young individuals have a gray-white tint; adult spiders that have not shed for a long time acquire a reddish color. 
The body is powerful, round, up to 4 cm long. Females are one and a half times larger than males. After mating, the female almost always eats the male. Top part the abdomen is covered with gray-black specks, the paws are shaggy and pointed.
Where it is found. In the steppe region of Crimea and partly in the Kherson region.
What does it eat? These individuals eat large insects - mole crickets, ground beetles, chafers, caterpillars, so feeding them at home is not difficult.
Is it dangerous? The effect of the bite is comparable to the sting of a wasp. The bite site swells and becomes numb, and the local temperature rises. A general allergic reaction is possible.
Did you know? These arthropods received their name by analogy with the Italian city of Taranto. If you believe the legends, the inhabitants of this city in the 15th century were massively affected by an epidemic disease called tarantism. This disease arose after a toxic bite from a tarantula spider, and the only salvation from it was endless dancing until exhaustion. The exact nature of the disease and its manifestations are not described in any of the sources, so modern historians believe that tarantism was only a cover for dance parties, whichcity authorities at that timedidn't approve.
What it looks like. One of the most beautiful representatives of the wolf spider family. Large tarantula dark color.
The cephalothorax and abdomen are shaggy, the legs are black with light transverse stripes. The body length is more than 8 cm, sexual dimorphism is not pronounced. Molting lasts up to four months, during which time the arthropod becomes lethargic.
Where it is found. Distributed throughout the central territory of the African continent.
What does it eat? Young crickets and locusts, grasshoppers and cockroaches. Occasionally catches wasps and attacks young small rodents.
Is it dangerous? The venom of the African tarantula is fatal to domestic animals and birds; in humans it provokes severe allergic reactions, low-grade fever, pain and subsequent numbness.
Black
What it looks like. It has a completely black body covered with small fluffy hairs. Its size ranges from 12 to 15 cm, the limb span is up to 35 cm. 
Three pairs of eyes are located on the front part of the cephalothorax, two more eyes are located on the sides of the head. Chelicerae with poisonous ducts are powerful and mobile. The lifespan of this species in captivity ranges from 15 to 20 years.
Where it is found. In countries South America- Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.
What does it eat? Young individuals eat small insects; adult tarantulas feed on small lizards, young rodents, and large insects.
Is it dangerous? The venom of the black tarantula is considered one of the most potent among tarantulas. This arthropod is not recommended for beginners, as it is active, aggressive, and its bite can cause serious harm to a small child.
Important! The tarantula shows aggression by rising on its hind legs and putting its front legs in front of itself. This is a warning posture followed by the scattering of lint, causing irritation to the respiratory tract and skin. The tarantula bites as a last resort or in case of immediate danger.
Blue
What it looks like. The black cephalothorax of this spider is covered with soft short hairs of a dark color. There are green-blue tan marks on the paws and rounded abdomen. 
The average body length is from 6 to 9 cm, depending on the age of the individual. This arthropod lives as long as the black representative of the family - up to twenty years.
Where it is found. IN tropical forests Guyana.
What does it eat? Small dragonflies, wasps, grasshoppers and beetles. Sometimes hunts caterpillars.
Is it dangerous? Can jump up to 20 cm, defending its territory. The bite site rapidly swells and begins to heat up. The pain lasts up to two days; the bite heals completely in about two weeks.
What it looks like. The giant tarantula, up to 17 cm long, has a beige color with black speckles, a shaggy abdomen and limbs with a span of up to 40 cm. 
She chewed powerful, medium-sized eyes with poisonous glands. This is the most big representative of its kind in the world.
Where it is found. In India and throughout Southeast Asia.
What does it eat? Hunts small lizards, mice, frogs. The young feed on large and small insects.
Is it dangerous? The bite of this tarantula is very painful and dangerous for humans in case of an allergic reaction.
Dzungarian
What it looks like. The body is flattened, streamlined, covered with short hairs. The color is light beige with specks, the abdomen is darker than the cephalothorax. 
Paws are light, with dark tips. The body length is approximately 8 cm. Another name for this species is South Russian.
Where it is found. Some individuals are found in the southern regions of Ukraine. These arthropods live where the climate is dry and warm - mainly in the Caucasus and Central Asia.
What does it eat? Caterpillars, cockroaches, beetles. Loves to hunt mole crickets.
Is it dangerous? Fast and agile, reacts to any movement at a distance of up to half a meter. The bite is painful, causing swelling and numbness.
Did you know? Before starting to move along a steep surface, tarantulas release claws from the tips of their furry legs, just like cats do. The claws give them good grip even on a smooth surface like glass. These arthropods weave the threads of their web from silk, similar to silk silkworms. True, the glands of the tarantula produce a very small amount of silk threads, so it is not possible to use tarantula silk on an industrial scale.
Reproduction
The mating season for these arthropods lasts from early August to mid-September. The male takes the initiative to mate. Shortly before mating, he weaves a small rectangular web, rubs his abdomen against it, thereby stimulating the seminal glands, and collects the released sperm in the pedipalps. 
Then, having found a sexually mature female, he begins to lure her with a special mating dance. The male tarantula stands on its hind legs and beats its chest with its front pair of legs and pedipalps. If the female is attracted to his courtship, she will allow herself to be impregnated.
Fertilization occurs due to the introduction of the pedipalps into the female's cloaca and the injection of the male's seed there. Immediately after fertilization, the male runs away so that the female does not attack him.
The female, in turn, finds a secluded place and weaves a cobweb cocoon in it, where she lays her eggs. She carries this cocoon on herself for forty days, until all her offspring hatch. The female carries small spiders on herself until they are able to move and get food on their own.
How to get rid of tarantulas in the garden
Start fighting these arthropods as soon as you notice their burrows in your area. Tarantulas make deep underground passages, dig holes and thereby reduce soil productivity.
Walk through all the beds, checking the secluded places under the leaves and in the depressions in the soil where the tarantulas could lay their eggs. Collect and burn all cocoons found. Spray the rows with boric acid or lime. 
If there are few tarantula burrows in your area, place baits in the form of lumps of plasticine attached to threads like a sinker and lower them into the burrows. Spiders will certainly cling to these baits, then they can be collected and destroyed.
As a repellent plant, plant peppermint bushes in your area. If possible, drive stakes into the area and put wind rattles on them. The vibration from the rotating ratchets will be transmitted underground along the stakes, and the tarantulas will leave your area.
Important! If you plan to breed these arthropods, place the babies and mother immediately after they reach one month of age. During this period, the female ceases to recognize her cubs and often eats a significant part of them.
Keeping a tarantula at home
Many people consider these arthropods to be cute, intelligent creatures, which is why they keep them as pets.
The container for keeping a pet tarantula should be quite spacious, since spiders are mobile creatures. Tree species feel more comfortable in vertical terrariums, and terrestrial species feel more comfortable in horizontal terrariums. 
The length and width of the walls of the terrarium must be at least 80 cm for individuals larger than 8 cm and 50 cm for individuals from 2 to 7 cm. Special attention pay attention to safety. Always cover the terrarium with a lid to prevent both your pet and the food insects from escaping.
Be sure to place branches and driftwood in the terrarium for easy placement of the tarantula and additional decoration. Place a convex piece of tree bark or ceramic as a hiding place for the spider. flower pot, into which the pet can crawl like into a hole.
Make sure that the terrarium has a constant temperature and humidity. The optimal temperature for keeping a tarantula is +20 degrees. During the cold season, equip the terrarium with a thermal mat or thermal cord to warm it up.
Since these arthropods live in arid regions, the permissible humidity level for them is 35–60%. A saucer with clean water, which must be changed daily. 
What to feed
The pet must be provided with food that is natural for it. Tarantulas feed on grasshoppers, cockroaches, beetles and their larvae. Large tarantulas can prey on young lizards and dragonflies.
Did you know? Tarantulas have an amazing ability to regenerate. Since these arthropodsgrowthroughout their lives and at the same time molt repeatedly, their body is renewed and grows back limbs lost in fights and during hunting. Thanks to the constant renewal of body cells, females of large tarantulas live from 25 to 30 years, and males - from 5 to 10 years.
Give the spider live food so that it can see it and catch it. The older your pet gets, the less often it needs to be fed. Young animals must be provided with food every week, older individuals - once every week and a half.
Adult three-year-old spiders should receive food no more than once every six months. Please note that these arthropods are gluttonous, and overeating can lead to abdominal rupture. Limit the portions you feed your spider. 
Home cleaning
Purchase long medical tweezers for working in the terrarium, since caring for this pet can be unsafe. The optimal length of tweezers is 25–30 cm. Using tweezers, you can move a spider from place to place, remove its waste products, the corpses of uneaten insects, and change a saucer of water.
If you don't have tweezers, before removing the terrarium, cover the spider with a plastic container or separate part of the terrarium from it with a plastic lid. This way you will protect yourself from being bitten and prevent your pet from escaping.
Tarantulas are considered one of the interesting representatives of the spider family. They reach a size of 10 cm and are predominantly nocturnal. The tarantula spider is capable of attacking not only insects, but also small animals - frogs, birds. For prey, a tarantula's bite is fatal, but for humans it does not pose a threat. In terms of pain, an arthropod bite is comparable to. It will not harm a strong, healthy person.
Briefly about tarantulas
Tarantulas, members of the family of araneomorphic spiders, are distinguished by their desire for solitude. Individuals live separately, females and males meet to mate, but do not create families. It is difficult to say where different tarantulas live. Tropical species love it warm humid climate. Spiders are found in Ukraine and Russia. The habitat is determined by species characteristics. The largest species live in tropical forests. All of the species presented are earthen spiders.
The mating season begins at the end of summer. The male weaves a web onto which he throws a portion of the seed, then immerses his pedipalps in it and goes in search of the female. Before fertilization, the male has to gain the trust of his companion, for which he has to perform a mating dance. After mating, the female can kill the male and even eat him. If the male is lucky, he will have time to escape faster than the companion will come to her senses.
Fertilized eggs are sent into a bag woven from a spider's web - a cocoon. The number of eggs in a cocoon can reach 2000, but usually does not exceed a couple of hundred. After the spiderlings are formed, they burst out. During this process, the female helps the offspring escape.
Insects are often confused with tarantulas, which belong to the arachnids from the order Mygalomorpha. These spiders are enormous in size, and where you cannot find a tarantula is in Europe, with the exception of the southern territories. The world's largest spider is not a tarantula. This is a giant tarantula, called the Goliath tarantula. The length of the spider reaches 10 cm, and the leg span reaches 28 cm. What distinguishes a tarantula from a tarantula is the structure of the jaws. In the tarantula they are parallel, in the tarantula they are medial.
There are many different types of tarantulas. Let's get acquainted with the most remarkable varieties:
- Apulian tarantula– aka lycosa tarantula has a combined color with a brown body. These spiders, which live primarily in the Middle East and Southern Europe, are striped with white and red borders. They build vertical burrows; tarantulas choose insects and amphibians as victims. The tarantula does not weave a web, but actively hunts;
- ornamental tarantula- a large individual that lives in Asia. It is not dangerous for people, but the bite can cause severe swelling;
- Brazilian- lives in the countries of South America, males reach 3 centimeters, the tarantula has a black abdomen, and a light stripe on the back. Tarantula venom is low-toxic, but can cause problems if you have individual intolerance;
- African– a beautiful spider with a lifespan of 2-3 years. Prefers warm and humid habitat. It's hard to describe what these tarantulas look like. They are dark in color with transverse stripes. Pubescent from the abdomen to the legs;
- black-bellied- he's a black tarantula. Lives in Japan and the islands Pacific Ocean. It has a black belly and a gray back with dark stripes. The tarantula looks very modest, its dimensions do not exceed 2 cm. The female tarantula is larger than the male, but not by much.
Relatively unpretentious domestic tarantulas are suitable for captive breeding. For lovers of arachnids, the blue tarantula with pubescent legs, the motley Aragogi, discovered relatively recently, and the red specimens that are found in Brazil are of interest.
Among other representatives of spiders, the South Russian tarantula is of particular interest. It is also known as misgir, which rarely attacks humans, although it is very common in nature. Is this tarantula dangerous or not? It cannot be said that Mizgir is the most poisonous of tarantulas. However, it is found everywhere: in Orenburg region, in Crimea, in Kazakhstan. You can find subspecies of wolf spiders in the Central Russian steppes, and even on the Siberian plains. There are known cases of arthropod attacks on Southern Urals, but more often spiders bite in the Rostov region, Krasnodar region, and Astrakhan.
ICD 10 code
A tarantula bite refers to mechanical damage, namely an attack by a non-venomous arthropod, which receives the ICD 10 code - W57.
Symptoms of a bite
Spider bites, in particular tarantulas, manifest themselves as follows: local pain, hyperemia, swelling. The more acute the reaction to arthropod venom, the stronger the symptoms. For adults and healthy person the insect is not dangerous, but the poison provokes unexpected reactions in a child, a pregnant woman or people with allergies.
What does a bite look like after an arthropod attack?? Puncture marks remain at the site of damage. They rarely bleed, but often take a long time to heal. Other manifestations and symptoms of the bite include burning and itching, local fever, and acute inflammation. The following signs are reasons to immediately consult a doctor:
- nausea and dizziness;
- loss of orientation;
- difficulty breathing;
- cardiopalmus;
- a sharp decrease in blood pressure.
Severe allergies to arachnid venom occur less frequently than to bee apitoxin, but if acute reactions develop, there is a high risk of anaphylactic shock and sudden death.
First aid
The procedure for attacking an arthropod is similar to the PMP in the event of an attack by other insects. After being bitten by a South Russian tarantula, you need to wash the wound with laundry soap under running water. If this is not possible, use drinking water from a bottle and any suitable antiseptic. Preference is given to chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide, solutions of potassium permanganate and furatsilin. You can use alcohol antiseptics: from ordinary brilliant green to various complexes of isopropyl alcohols.
First aid for a tarantula bite includes taking antiallergic medications. Among the very popular and affordable products: Claritin, Zodak, Diazolin, Loratadine.
It is believed that the blood of an arachnid can neutralize the venom of an arachnid. To do this, smear the damaged area with the blood of a killed insect. The most sensitive part of the body is its abdomen. The skin is easily torn even with minimal force.
What to do in case of a tarantula attack if a child is bitten? Urgently call an ambulance or take the child to the hospital yourself. The victim is given more fluids and offered antihistamines to prevent allergic bronchospasm. A tight bandage and suction of venom in the event of an arthropod attack are ineffective. If first aid for tarantula bites is provided in a timely manner, the risk of complications is minimal.
Treatment
The most dangerous reaction to poison is respiratory arrest. If there is a suspicion of an acute allergic reaction, seek the help of a resuscitator. Injections of adrenaline and epinephrine solution allow the victim to return to life. At all stages of provision medical care control heart rate and breathing. If a tarantula or karakurt has bitten, diphenhydramine is used, and an aqueous solution of aminophylline is indicated to relieve symptoms of respiratory failure.
A tarantula bite rarely leads to serious consequences, and therefore traditional treatment does not require the use of potent drugs. For many centuries it was believed that a special dance, the tarantella, allows one to recover from the consequences of a tarantula bite. This opinion was never shared by doctors. There is no healing power in dance movements with an accelerating rhythm. This is an ordinary legend, which over many centuries has acquired unrealistic details.
The tarantula itself is not a poisonous spider, and its bite is not dangerous for humans. However, patients with hypersensitivity may require infusion detoxification. To maintain electrolyte balance, glucose drips are prescribed. IN severe cases may require cardiac medications. If the victim suffers severe poisoning, he is prescribed glucocorticosteroids. Typically, serious reactions occur against the background of existing diseases of the central nervous system and cardiovascular system.
Complications and consequences
Do not underestimate insects, even if their bite itself is not fatal. Acute allergic reactions, resulting in bronchospasm and anaphylactic shock, can cause death. But these are not the most common consequences that occur after an arthropod bite. The main complications include:
- non-healing wounds at the site of the bite;
- persistent dermatological disorders;
- neuromuscular disorders.
What is dangerous about the bite of a predator insect, which is a tarantula, is defeat nervous system. The poison has a neurogenic effect, which can cause serious complications in people with heart disease, respiratory system and CNS.
Prevention
To prevent a spider from biting a tarantula, you do not need to pester it. Do not stir up holes where insects live. Curiosity and a consumerist attitude towards nature are fraught with trouble. Even if the insect does not pose a danger to humans, the threat remains for children and people with hypersensitivity to poisons.
The main prevention of bites is the use of repellents on country holidays and while traveling. In case you have to treat a tarantula or other insect bite, you should prepare a first aid kit. Antiseptics, antipruritic ointments, NSAIDs in the form of gels and creams, and antihistamines will be useful on the road.
For those who breed exotic insects in a terrarium, it is worth recalling the safety rules. Arthropods are not left unattended, they are not allowed to “walk” around the room, and the conditions of detention are monitored. Also, the terrarium must be safe. Typically, products made from reinforced glass with a secure door design are chosen. Only one individual is kept in one terrarium, otherwise fights will begin between insects.
Dear readers of the 1MedHelp website, if you still have questions on this topic, we will be happy to answer them. Leave your reviews, comments, share stories of how you experienced a similar trauma and successfully dealt with the consequences! Your life experience may be useful to other readers.
Tarantulas are poisonous spiders with various patterns on their bodies. Almost all tarantulas are hairy. They feed on insects and hunt at night. To the question “How many eyes does a tarantula have?” You can answer this way: there are 8 of them - two main large eyes, and the rest are auxiliary. Almost all species of tarantulas live in countries with tropical climate and we could only see them in zoo terrariums. But we can also meet some representatives in the CIS countries, for example, such a spider as the South Russian tarantula. You need to at least know short description tarantulas, so that you can protect yourself and your loved ones and know what to do if you are bitten by a tarantula. This article presents the most famous species.
South Russian tarantula - Lycosa singoriensis
The South Russian tarantula has a body 2.5-3 cm long, densely covered with hairs. The spider is almost entirely black on the underside, and brownish-red on top. It can live in steppe, forest-steppe and desert zones. Distributed in Central Asia, Russia and Ukraine (covers the Crimean Peninsula). These tarantulas were also spotted in Belarus. These spiders live in earthen burrows (30-40 cm). At night they go hunting. This tarantula is capable of jumping up to 20 cm in length. They feed on insects (crickets, grasshoppers, etc.). At the end of summer, spiders mate. The male actively moves his front legs and vibrates his abdomen, thus attracting the female. After mating, the male must immediately leave, as the excited female may eat him. After some time, the female tarantula makes a cocoon from the web, where she lays her eggs. She attaches the cocoon to the top of her abdomen and reliably protects it. After the spiderlings are born (about 50 individuals), they climb back onto the spider and sit on it for some time. But soon they leave the mother’s body and begin an independent life. The South Russian tarantula lives for about 2 years, and in captivity no more than 1 year. The tarantula's bite is not very toxic. The bite site swells, becomes yellowish in color, and a burning sensation occurs.
White tarantula
Here is a short description of the white tarantula. Its body is the size of a coin (2-3 cm). Cephalothorax white, abdomen and other parts of the body are dark brown in color. The white tarantula does not yet have a binomial name, as it was discovered quite recently. It was found in 2011 in Western Australia. Scientists are researching this species, but for now we only know what a tarantula looks like. For now, this is all that can be said about the tarantula.
Blue Tarantula - Haplopelma lividum
The blue tarantula reaches 15 cm in length, ranging from light blue to dark blue, with a purple tint. It is found in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Despite its bright color, the blue tarantula lives in an earthen hole. Feeds on large insects and hunts them in evening time or catches those running past the hole. The blue tarantula reaches sexual maturity in one year, and females in the second year of life. It is not difficult to keep this spider at home. Required temperature 22-24° C, humidity environment 80-85%. It is necessary to pour 6-8 cm of substrate into a terrarium or aquarium. The blue tarantula is poisonous, but its poison is not fatal. A person bitten by it experiences burning pain at the site of the bite, and the area becomes swollen and inflamed. But after some time these symptoms disappear. It is recommended to pick it up only for people experienced in this matter, since the blue tarantula is quite aggressive and fast.
Apulian tarantula - Lycosa tarantula
This tarantula reaches 7 cm in length. The body is gray-brown, covered with white hairs. There are many light and dark, longitudinal and transverse stripes on the body. They live in Southern Europe: Portugal, Spain, Italy. The Apulian tarantula lives in burrows up to 60 cm deep. It emerges from the burrow in the evening and hunts insects. In winter, the Apulian tarantula closes the entrance to its burrow with dry leaves fastened with cobwebs. Females of this species live up to 4 years, and males up to 2 years and mate once. Females lay eggs in a web cocoon and wear it on themselves. After some time, the spiderlings emerge from the cocoon and remain on the mother’s abdomen for a short time. Tarantula venom is not very toxic, but causes painful swelling in humans at the site of the bite.
Photo of a Puglian tarantula
Black tarantula - Grammostola pulchra
The description is as follows: this tarantula tarantula is 6-7 cm in size, black in color and densely covered with hairs. Lives in Brazil. Prefers a fairly humid environment (about 60-70 mm per month) and a temperature of 18-25 C°. When the cold season comes, the black tarantula digs a hole in the ground, where it spends the winter. As a pet tarantula, this is an excellent option, as it is quite calm and not fast. Moreover, this is a long-lived spider, it lives up to 20 years. Due to their slow development, black tarantulas become adults at 6-7 years of age. They feed on insects. This spider is kept in terrariums filled with substrate with different shelters and recesses. Their mating is peaceful and calm. After mating, the female lays eggs in a web cocoon, where there are about 100 spider embryos. The spider guards the cocoon and carries it with her. The black tarantula is not dangerous, it is quite calm, but if handled incorrectly, it can bite. The symptoms of its bite are similar to those of a bee or hornet sting.
King Baboon Tarantula
This is the largest tarantula spider, its body length reaches 23 cm. The king baboon tarantula is light red to dark brown in color. The body is covered with short hairs. It has very strong and large legs, especially its hind leg (8 - that’s how many legs tarantulas have). Thanks to this, he takes a stance, warning his enemy of the attack. At the same time, he rubs his paws and makes a characteristic sound. Lives in eastern Africa, Kenya, Tanzania. The king baboon feeds on large insects, lizards, and small birds. Many lovers of exotic spiders want to have such a handsome spider in their home, but the question arises: is it dangerous? The king baboon is quite aggressive and fast, his character is unpredictable. If something goes wrong, he can easily bite you. So beginners in this business should be careful. Its poison is not fatal to humans, but causes painful sensations, burning and swelling at the site of the bite. It also has large and sharp chelicerae (jaws) with which it pierces the skin.
As you can see, a tarantula bite is not fatal to humans, but quite painful. Therefore, with peaceful and correct coexistence with him in your home, you will only receive pleasure from contemplating these beautiful creatures. Caring for them does not require much effort. The main thing is to adhere to the temperature and humidity in which this or that species is used to being.
You already understand what to feed the tarantula. The above species have the same tastes - these are live insects. But how much a tarantula costs depends on the species: the more exotic the tarantula, the higher its price.
Don't be afraid to have tarantulas in your home, it's an amazing experience. But at the same time, do not forget about the characteristics of your pet and be careful.
There is an interesting etymological story to which the tarantula spider owes its name. All sources give an example from the Italian Renaissance.
In those days, in the city of Tarento they were very afraid of one of our spider species; it was believed that its tarantula bite was almost fatal. To alleviate the fate of those bitten, it was prescribed to move a lot and randomly, supposedly in this case the poison would be neutralized. Subsequently, these chaotic movements began to be performed to music, and thus one of the most popular dances was born - the tarantella, and the spider itself was called the tarantula.
Whether this is true or not, it is not possible to check now, but the spider turned out to be not so deadly - it does no more harm than from a bee or a hornet, although in the photo the tarantula spider looks scary.
Biological certificate
Now let's move on to the description of the tarantula, the characteristics of its behavior, nutrition and reproduction, let's give it brief description as a representative of the animal world.
Scientific classification and lifestyle
The genus of tarantulas belongs to. They live mainly in burrows, in which they spend all daylight hours, and at night they go out hunting. These arthropods also weave a web, but they use it not as a trapping net, but as a decoration for the walls in their underground apartments and for arranging an oviposition cocoon.
By the way! The depth of a tarantula's burrow can reach 60 centimeters, and some species are even capable of going a meter deep before the onset of cold weather!
Tarantulas are often confused with, which is greatly facilitated by the fact that in some languages the word “tarantula” is used to refer specifically to representatives of this family, and even if we ignore the differences in size, these arthropods are similar to each other.
Remember! Tarantula is from the wolf spider family, tarantulas are from the tarantula family!
The main difference between the two families is the structure and functioning of the chylicerae. In wolves they move towards each other, in tarantulas they move in parallel.
Description
What does a tarantula look like? These are quite large spiders, reaching a leg span of 30 centimeters. Males are always slightly smaller than females. The bodies of spiders are covered with hairs of gray, brown or brown color, depending on the species.
The largest sizes are tarantulas representing South America; their European relatives rarely exceed a body length of five centimeters.
An interesting question is about the organs of vision of representatives of this family. Curious lovers of the animal world are often interested in how many eyes a tarantula has. We answer - he has eight of them, which allows you to view the entire panorama around both horizontally and vertically.
Nutrition
It is also important to know what tarantulas eat. This is especially true for those lovers of arthropods who are going to breed them in their own apartment. And what, as the character in “The Twelve Chairs” said: “Who cares for a mare!”
So, night Hunter feeds on everything that is shorter. It could be an insect, an arachnid of another species, or even small mammals and birds. Digestion in tarantulas, like many other spiders, is external. First, the predator introduces poison and digestive juices into the body of the victim, which decompose the tissues of the victim, and only then absorbs the digested substrate.
Spreading
The question of where tarantulas are found is the most popular among arachnophobes, people who are afraid of spiders. In this regard, residents of central Russia and regions with similar or more severe climatic conditions can be calm. Here the tarantula can only be found in various zoos and apartments of enthusiasts and Spider-Man fans.
But in the south of our country, our neighboring states, the south of Europe, the African, Asian and American continents, tarantulas are found in large numbers.
Reference! Currently, scientists have identified more than 200 species of tarantula spider.
Reproduction
Tarantula spiders reproduce like representatives of other spider families, but they still have their own characteristics. First of all, this is the famous mating dance, by which the spider recognizes the male of its own species. In general, the mating process can be divided into the following stages:
- At the end of summer, the male decides that it is time to extend his tarantula lineage and goes in search of a female.
- Having found the intended bride, he begins to perform a ritual dance.
- She, in turn, takes a closer look at the gentleman, and if she decides that he is the man of her dreams and belongs to the same species, she begins to respond to him, copying the dance steps.
- After such identification, mating itself occurs, after which the groom hurries to quickly retreat before the missus decides to eat him. It must be said that in this respect, male tarantulas are more agile than representatives of the male population of other spiders.
In the female’s body, warmed by the warmth of the sun, eggs begin to form, up to 700 eggs depending on the species. At the end of this process, the female weaves a cocoon from the web directly on her stomach, where she places the formed eggs.
So she carries her offspring on herself until the young begin to hatch. Sensing this moment, the young mother gnaws through the cocoon and releases her children into the wild.
However, the babies do not leave their mother, but move onto her back, where she carries them until they learn to feed themselves.
Bites
Here we will reveal the secret of whether the tarantula is dangerous for humans. There is no doubt that a spider bites painfully; in any case, those who were bitten noted that it was similar to being stung by a bee.
One of effective ways What to do if you are bitten by a tarantula is to use the antidote contained directly in the spider’s body. It is enough to crush the animal and lubricate the bite site with juices, then the pain will decrease and the wound will heal faster.
To the question of whether the tarantula is poisonous or not, we will also answer in the affirmative, otherwise how would it kill its victims. However, its venom is not dangerous for humans unless there is an individual intolerance or allergy to bites.
Types of spiders
As we mentioned above, there are over two hundred species of tarantulas, even just listing them Latin names will take up quite a lot of space, so in our review only those that are most popular among lovers of these animals will be mentioned.
South Russian
It is also called mizgir, as the name suggests, it is found in the south of our country. Depending on the external conditions The coloration of this individual of this species varies from gray to brown. Females reach three centimeters in size, males are a centimeter to one and a half smaller.
With climate warming, the habitat of southern Russian tarantulas is gradually expanding; soon we will meet them in middle lane, then the prefix “south” can be discarded.
Apulian
The Apulian tarantula, also called the real one, is twice as large as the domestic species. Females of the Puglian reach a size of seven centimeters.
This type of spider is widespread throughout the Mediterranean countries, both in southern Europe and northern Africa. The burrows of this spider are located in rocky shores and rocky beaches.
Brazilian
The Brazilian tarantula has a beautiful coloration. It is small, three centimeters long, its body is colored in various shades of brown, and there is an elongated light stripe on the head and back.
The distribution area of the handsome man is the countries of South America: Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina.
Spanish
The Spanish tarantula was previously considered one of the subspecies of the Apulian spider, which shares the same habitat with it. More recently, the Spanish spider began to be considered an independent species; this happened only in 2013.
Polyastomy
This species is adjacent to Brazilian spider, but different from the last one gray hairs covering the body, but in size it is similar to its neighbor and has a three-centimeter body, excluding the length of the legs.
Leocarti
This tarantula is from the Australian continent. a small gray-brown spider, the body length of the female is only 1.2 centimeters, and the males are nine millimeters long.
Black-bellied
This species of tarantula lives in the Pacific Islands, Japan and Taiwan. The brown body of females barely reaches two centimeters in length, the male is half a centimeter shorter. The spider's abdomen is black, which determined its name, and there are two dark stripes on the back.
At the end of our story about unusual spiders, we invite you to watch a fascinating video about a tarantula spider hunting a mouse.
Among the 42 thousand of all arachnids on earth, there is a special family - wolf spiders. These include poisonous tarantula You can see photos of spiders of this species in today’s article.
One version of the origin of this word says that in Italy, near the city of Taranto, there is a particularly dangerous Apulian spider. This spider is also named after the city. Its bite supposedly causes a fatal illness in humans, although scientists later found out that its poison does not pose a great danger to humans. And in order to free yourself from the disease, you had to dance a special dance called the tarantella.
What does a tarantula look like?
Like all arthropods, all 4 pairs of legs have segments. The body consists of two parts: the cephalothorax and abdomen, connected by a small tube-stalk. The structure of the cephalothorax is quite complex. There are two more types of limbs, a mouth opening, and several pairs of eyes that rise slightly upward and resemble periscopes.
The abdomen is soft, tender, and the cephalothorax is covered with durable chitin.
They come in large sizes, up to 6 cm. Females are much larger than males.
Here's a "baby" Where do tarantulas live?
In Russia, another type of tarantula - the South Russian - prefers to live in the Caucasus, southern Ukraine and Central Asia. Sometimes it is also popularly called misgir. Distinctive feature it is a dark spot that looks like a cap.
Tarantulas live in earthen burrows. They dig holes in soft ground, and carry away pebbles in special limbs located on the cephalothorax. A tubular structure up to 9 cm high is built in front of the entrance, it is entwined with cobwebs and the threads are pulled deep into the hole. Threads disturbed by someone serve as a danger signal for the spider.
Tarantulas build burrows vertically, going deep into the ground up to 60 cm. These spiders drink water, so in dry places, if you find a tarantula burrow, you can always find a source of water nearby.
They stay in burrows during the day and come out to hunt at night.
How do tarantulas hunt?
Often, prey in the form of a careless beetle, cricket or grasshopper itself falls into the tarantula’s hole. Sometimes some insect touches the signal threads, then the spider quickly jumps out of the hole and grabs it.
They have excellent hearing; for example, a person’s steps can be heard 15 km away.
If he goes hunting on his own, he behaves extremely carefully. Slowly, stopping, it approaches ground beetles, caterpillars, mole crickets or other insects. Then it makes a sharp jump and bites the victim, injecting poison. Waits for the poison to take effect, and can bite several times. It patiently pursues a particularly large victim for 30 minutes, jumping up and retreating back after the attack.
And in Asian countries they are simply... eaten For humans, its poison is not fatal, but the bite is unpleasant, quite painful, similar to how a wasp bites.
Spider family
At the end of summer, the male mates with the female, and in the fall he life cycle ends. The female lives alone in the hole all winter, and closer to spring she begins to weave a cocoon for the eggs. She wears it on herself until the spiderlings hatch.
They sit on the mother’s body for some time. As soon as they shed their chitinous cover for the first time, they shed and begin to slowly descend to the ground. And then they completely go into independent life.