Is the tarantula spider dangerous for humans?

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The tarantula spider , or tarantula, has a rather memorable and very colorful appearance. This insect is quite large in size, has long, hairy limbs and a bright color, which becomes even brighter with each subsequent molt. This type of spider is divided into many subspecies. However, they are all considered poisonous to one degree or another.

For an adult, healthy person, their bite is unlikely to be fatal, but can provoke chills, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, high fever, a severe allergic reaction, and burns. For an elderly, weakened person, or a child, or a small animal, a bite from this insect can be fatal.

Origin of the species and description

Photo: Tarantula spider

This spider belongs to arthropod insects, is a representative of the class of arachnids, the order of spiders, the family of tarantula spiders. The name of this poisonous spider comes from a painting by the German artist Maria Sibylla Merian, who depicted a spider attacking a hummingbird. She herself witnessed this episode, which she was able to observe during her stay in Suriname.

These spiders belong to the suborder of primitive arachnids. In various sources they are often classified as tarantulas. However, this is due to an incorrect, not entirely correct translation of their name. Many scientists and researchers consider it advisable to classify tarantulas into a separate class of insects, such as scorpions.

Video: Tarantula Spider

The first description of this type of arthropod appeared in the 18th century after a German artist returned from a long trip along the coast of South America, where few people had been in those days. After she witnessed an unusual scene of a spider attacking a small bird, she transferred it to her canvas. Upon arrival home, the picture was presented to society. However, this episode was severely criticized by the public, since no one could believe that an insect could feed on small invertebrate animals or birds.

However, after just a century and a half, sufficient evidence was obtained for this phenomenon and the name tarantula spider was very firmly attached to the arthropod. Today, spiders are quite common on different continents. They are divided into many subspecies, of which researchers number about a thousand.

Bite

Photo of a tarantula spider of the genus Heteroscodra

The toxic substances that a tarantula can inject when bitten are not fatal.

Typically, a person feels:

• pain;
• psychological experiences;
• redness and hyperemia;
• muscle cramps.

Heteroscodra, Phlogius and other species have potent convulsive toxins and may develop more severe symptoms:

• nausea;
• dizziness;
• loss of consciousness;
• significant swelling;
• muscle cramps, the duration of which can last a month or more;
• heat.

All individuals are poisonous. When talking about safe animals, it means that the substances do not have the necessary toxicity that causes irritation.

People who kept spiders of this species in their houses noted that their pets died from them. From this we can conclude that tarantulas pose a certain danger to small children, weakened individuals and those with allergies.

Note. Tarantula spiders do not always inject venom when they bite. This is called a "dry bite". In this case, pain is experienced only from the puncture of the skin, and there are no symptoms of poisoning.

How to Avoid a Bite

In the natural environment, human contact with large spiders occurs very rarely. Animals usually show aggression when kept at home.

Therefore, the first piece of advice for preventing bites is that you should not enter the terrarium if the tarantula is in a defensive position or is showing aggression. When cleaning the home, the animal should be temporarily placed in another container.

With aggressive animals and those with highly toxic substances, for example, the species Pterinochilus murinus, human manipulation must be extremely careful, but even when the animal is peaceful and safe (Brachypelma albopilosum), it should not be handled. Individuals distributed throughout the North American continent, as a rule, do not inject poison into human skin.

For this reason, they are often used for breeding and keeping. Even if a pet is considered harmless, it can still bite, so it must be handled with the utmost care.

What to do

These symptoms appear quite rarely. WHO does not give instructions on specific treatment because there is no risk of death.

However, this does not mean that there is no need to take any measures at all, since even if the poison was not injected, an infection may get into the wound, and this is fraught with additional complications. The steps taken are described in more detail in the video in this article, and a brief algorithm is outlined in the table below.

Table. First aid for a tarantula spider bite:

Note. If the condition of the bitten person worsens or a small child is injured, you should immediately consult a doctor to provide qualified assistance.

To relieve pain, the bite site can be cooled in any way. Ice or frozen foods are best for this purpose. You should not drink alcohol, as this may increase the toxic effect.

Consequences of a bite

Poisonous spider chelicerae

How the poison will affect a person depends on two factors:

• type of spider (dangerous or not);
• individual characteristics of a person (age, level of immunity, health status, etc.).

For example, bites from spiders of the genus Brachypelma, as a rule, are easily tolerated by humans and after a few hours there are no signs left except a puncture on the skin.

However, there are quite toxic species (Haplopelma, Ornithoctonus, Stromatopelma, Citharischius, etc.), the poison of which causes severe pain and inflammation:

• significant swelling of the limb;
• temporary paralysis of muscles in the area of ​​the bite;
• respiratory dysfunction and other serious disorders.

These clinical manifestations may bother a person for several days and recur subsequently.

Appearance and features

Photo: Goliath tarantula spider

The tarantula spider has a rather memorable, bright appearance. It has long limbs covered with hard, thick hairs. They perform the function of the organs of touch and smell.

Visually, it seems that arthropods have six pairs of limbs, but if you look closely, it becomes clear that the spider has only four pairs of limbs. These are paws, one pair of which is chelicerae, which are used for digging holes, protection, hunting and moving caught prey, as well as pedipalps, which serve as organs of touch. The chelicerae, which contain ducts of the poisonous glands, are directed forward.

Some subspecies are quite large in size, reaching 27-30 centimeters. On average, the body length of one adult individual ranges from 4 to 10-11 centimeters, excluding the length of the limbs. The average body weight is 60-90 grams. However, there are individuals whose weight reaches about 130-150 grams.

Each of the subspecies of this species has a bright and very specific color. With each subsequent molt, the color becomes brighter and more saturated.

Interesting fact: During the molting period, not only the color becomes brighter and more saturated, but also the body size increases. Some individuals can increase their size three to four times at the moment of molting!

Sometimes during the molting process the spider is unable to free its limbs. By nature they are endowed with the ability to reject them. However, after three or four moults they are restored again.

The body of the arthropod consists of two segments: the cephalothorax and abdomen, which are connected to each other by a dense isthmus. The body segments are covered with a dense exoskeleton - chitin. This protective layer protects arthropods from mechanical damage and helps prevent excessive moisture loss. This is especially important for those insects that live in regions with hot, dry climates.

The cephalothorax is protected by a solid shield called a carapace. On its front surface there are four pairs of eyes. The organs of the digestive tract and reproductive system are located in the abdomen. At the end of the abdomen there are appendages that allow us to weave spider threads.

Where does the tarantula spider live?

Photo: Dangerous tarantula spider

Tarantula spiders are quite common in nature and live almost throughout the entire globe. The only exception is the territory of Antarctica. Spiders are found somewhat less frequently in Europe than in other regions.

Geographical regions of distribution of arthropods:

• South America;
• North America;
• Australia;
• New Zealand;
• Oceania;
• Italy;
• Portugal;
• Spain.

The habitat region is largely determined by the species. Some species are drought-resistant and live in deserts with a hot, sultry climate. Others prefer tropical or equatorial forest areas. Depending on the environment and type of habitat, spiders are divided into several categories: burrowing, arboreal and earthen. Accordingly, they live in burrows, in trees or bushes, or on the surface of the ground.

It is characteristic that at various stages of their development spiders can change their appearance and place of residence. The larvae, which at this stage live in burrows, emerge from the burrows upon reaching puberty and spend most of their time on the surface of the earth. Many tarantulas that prefer to live in burrows dig them themselves and strengthen them by entwining them with cobwebs. In some cases, burrows may be occupied by small rodents that have been eaten by a spider. Spiders that live on trees or shrubs can construct special tubes from their webs.

Due to the fact that spiders are considered sedentary arthropods, they spend most of their time in selected or made shelters. Female individuals who have eaten tightly and thoroughly may not leave their shelters for several months.

Now you know where the tarantula spider lives, let's now see what you can feed the tarantula.

What does a tarantula spider eat?

Photo: Poisonous tarantula spider

Insects rarely eat meat, but they are considered predators and eat exclusively animal food. The structural features of the digestive tract require easily digestible, delicate food.

What serves as a food source for tarantula spiders:

• birds;
• small rodents and invertebrates;
• insects;
• smaller arthropods, including spiders;
• fish;
• amphibians.

The digestive organs are designed in such a way that they cannot cope with poultry meat. However, in nature there are indeed cases of spider attacks on small birds. The main part of the diet of tarantulas is small insects - cockroaches, bloodworms, flies, arthropods. Relatives of arachnids can also become prey.

Tarantula spiders cannot be called active insects, therefore, in order to catch their prey, they most often wait for their prey in ambush. Thanks to their hypersensitive hairs, they sense every movement of potential prey. They are also able to determine the size and type of prey. When she gets as close as possible, the spider attacks with lightning speed, injecting poison into her.

During the period when spiders are too hungry, they can chase the victim, or carefully sneak up on it until they get as close as possible. Spiders that have just emerged from eggs do not experience hunger or need for food.

Should you be afraid of tarantulas?

It has been fashionable for some time now to have colorful Theraphosidae in your home. Before buying, people ask whether the tarantula spider is really poisonous or not to humans? This one is the largest representative of its class, like the others, poisonous. But it releases a toxic substance only in two cases. Firstly, to defeat prey, and secondly, in case of danger. If a person does not threaten him, then he is of no interest to the spider.

Bites

What happens if a tarantula spider bites you? This happens when keeping protostomes in home nurseries. The bite is not fatal to humans. There is fever, irritation of the skin, and if you are allergic to the toxin, swelling and severe itching may occur.

Burning hairs

In response to threats, spiders rub the bristles on their legs, spread their stomachs with their hind legs and release hairs. They are a serious irritant to the skin and delicate mucous membranes. This bristle can be poisonous to humans.

Why is this happening? Urticating hair is one of the defense mechanisms. They cover the dorsal and posterior surface of the abdomen. When threatened, tarantulas eject bristles from their abdominal cavity, directing them toward potential intruders. When hairs come into contact with the skin or eyes, they cause irritation.

Excrement attack

The arthropod's natural waste products can be used as a defense mechanism. They pose no danger to humans or animals. When threatened, the spider throws them out of the anus, trying to blind a potential enemy.

Features of character and lifestyle

Photo: Tarantula spider

The tarantula spider leads a solitary lifestyle. They tend to spend most of their time in their chosen shelters. If spiders are full, they may not leave their shelter for several months. These types of spiders typically lead a solitary, sedentary lifestyle. If necessary, spiders leave their shelter mainly at night.

This type of arthropod is characterized by unpredictable behavior, as well as changing habits throughout different life cycles. When choosing shelter, spiders prefer to locate themselves close to vegetation to increase their chances of finding a food source. Adult spiders that live in the crowns of trees have a better ability to weave webs.

One of the most important processes in the life of every arthropod is molting. Young individuals molt almost every month. The older the spider gets, the less often it molts. During molting, the pack grows and improves its color. Before molting, spiders stop feeding to make it easier to free themselves from the tight chitinous cover. Most often, arthropods turn over on their backs in order to free themselves from the shell more easily and quickly.

Tarantula spiders are deservedly considered record holders for life expectancy. Some individuals live up to 30 years. Average life expectancy is 20-22 years. Despite their impressive size, tarantulas have many enemies when living in natural conditions.

For self-defense, arthropods have means of defense:

• excrement attack;
• bites with injection of poison;
• burning villi in the abdominal area.

With the help of hairs, females protect their future offspring. They weave them into a web that entangles the cocoon. An effective weapon that scares away enemies is considered to be a stream of excrement that spiders direct into the enemy's eye.

Life in captivity and breeding characteristics of tarantulas

All tarantulas are poisonous. True, to varying degrees. An adult bitten by this spider will not die, but will experience severe pain, convulsions, and fever. But a cat or a small child may die. The burning hairs of these arthropods cause reactions similar to allergic ones. Some spiders of this family defend themselves by throwing a stream of excrement towards the enemy.

These spiders are the record holders for longevity among terrestrial arthropods. Some specimens live up to 30 years. Moreover, females live longer than males.

Social structure and reproduction

Photo: Large tarantula spider

Males mature much faster than females, but their life expectancy is much lower than that of females. A male individual lives no more than a year, and if he manages to mate with a female, he lives even less.

Males have special hooks, which are usually called tibal hooks. With their help, males hold females and at the same time protect themselves from them, since during the mating process females can be unpredictable and quite aggressive. Before starting to search for a suitable companion, males weave a special web, onto which they secrete a small amount of seminal fluid. Then they grab the edge of the web with their limbs and pull it along with them.

Even if the female is attracted to a potential partner, mating does not occur without performing special rituals. With their help, arthropods find out whether they belong to the same species or not. Each species is characterized by special rituals for recognizing relatives: swaying the body, tapping the limbs, etc.

The mating process can be instantaneous, or it can last several hours. It involves the males using their pedipalps to transfer seminal fluid into the female’s body. After the end of mating, the males immediately try to move away. Otherwise, the female eats the male.

Subsequently, eggs are formed in the female’s body. When the time comes, the female lays eggs. The number of eggs depends on the subspecies. The female can lay from several dozen to thousands of eggs. Then the female makes a kind of cocoon in which she lays her eggs and incubates them. This process lasts from 20 to one hundred days.

During this period, females are especially aggressive and unpredictable. They can desperately and fearlessly protect their future offspring, or they can eat everything without hesitation if they feel a strong feeling of hunger. Nymphs emerge from the cocoon, which during the molting process grow and turn into larvae, and then into adults.

Tarantula spider. Description, features and habitat of the tarantula spider

To notice it, you need to carefully examine the pedipalps, since the bulbs in a calm state are lowered and pressed against the pedipalps, hidden between the hairs or in a special “capsule”. Another sign is the spines, or rather hooks, located along one third of the length of the shins of the front pair of paws. True, not all genera and species of tarantulas have such spines. They are most often present in American and African genera such as Aphonopelma, Avicularia, Brachypelma, Ceratogyrus, Lasiodora and Xenesthis. Among Asian genera they are found, for example, in Haplopelma. Males of such Asian genera as, for example, Chilobrachys, Poecilotheria and Selenocosmia, as well as African genera (for example, Hysterocrates and Stromatopelma) do not have these hooks at all. They are highly reduced in the largest South American tarantula, Theraphosa blondi. A little earlier than the male goes to look for a mate (from 4 to 8 weeks after the last moult), he must prepare for mating. He weaves himself a thick bed of cobwebs, crawls under it with his carapace down, and from the genital area, located on the underside of the back of the abdomen, secretes sperm, which sticks to the web. Then he will crawl out from under the web, apply the bulbs to a drop of sperm and scoop it up. After this, he destroys the cobweb “bed” and goes in search of the female.

It is important that the male court the female of his species. Each species uses specific signals. The most common among them is the so-called tapping. Sexually mature males and females, ready for mating, tap their pedipalps, sometimes raising their legs. The number, interval and intensity of impacts depends on the type. If a representative of the opposite sex catches the “agreed signal,” he responds. Then the male can approach the female. Some genera knock on the ground, some (only males) inside their burrows or, for example, as a species of the genus Poecilotheria, on the bark of trees. Another signal may be a rustling or creaking sound that tarantulas produce using stridulatory plates on the chelicerae.

5. Conclusions

Personally, what attracts me to choosing a spider as a pet is the following. Material costs for purchasing a spider are about 200 UAH. (100 UAH - terrarium, 100 UAH - spider); the terrarium takes up little space; The spider is unpretentious in care and feeding. Therefore, students who live in a dormitory can get themselves a tarantula and not worry about it when they go home for weekends and holidays (it is enough to feed an adult once a month). There is a pet store in Donetsk, which presents many types of tarantula spiders, which are suitable for both beginners and people with experience in keeping spiders. For those who are interested - https://www.minizoo.donetsk.ua/

6. Links

1. https://www.minizoo.ru - Site dedicated to exotic animals and insects. 2. https://www.zoo-spider.ru - On the site you can purchase many types of tarantula spiders, rare in the CIS countries. 3. https://www.tarantulas.ru/ - The site contains the most complete information about the maintenance and care of spiders. 4. https://www.pauki.ru/ — The site presents one of the largest galleries dedicated to tarantula spiders. 5. https://tarantulas.tropica.ru/—Forum where spider lovers can exchange their experiences in breeding and caring for spiders.

Photos taken from the site https://www.pauki.ru/.

Natural enemies of tarantula spiders

Photo: Poisonous tarantula spider

Despite their impressive size, terrifying appearance and the presence of defense mechanisms, tarantula spiders have a fairly large number of enemies in natural conditions. They themselves often become prey to other insects. Various varieties of scolopendra are considered one of the worst enemies of the tarantula spider. They hunt not only tarantulas, but also other, larger spiders and snakes.

The tarantula often becomes prey for representatives of the ethmostigmus genus, or larger arachnids. The enemies of the tarantula also include many amphibians, including the giant frog, white-lipped tree frog, aga toad, etc. some invertebrates are not averse to occasionally feasting on the tarantula.

This type of arachnid is also subject to attacks by parasitic insects that lay eggs in the body of spiders. The eggs subsequently hatch into larvae that parasitize the host’s body, eating it from the inside or outside. When the number of parasites becomes huge, the spider simply dies due to the fact that the larvae literally eat it alive.

Interesting fact: This arthropod has a serious competitor in the form of the Goliath spider. During their existence in natural conditions, they compete for food supply.

Tarantula spider: is it dangerous for humans?

How poisonous a spider can be and what the consequences of an insect bite may be depends on the breed of the insect and its body parts:

• Even the bite of the most poisonous arthropod cannot lead to death. However, there is a high likelihood of allergic reactions, nausea, dizziness and seizures. People with weak immune systems and children experience it much more difficult, as it becomes more difficult for the body to fight toxins;
• A spider cannot always bite by injecting venom into the skin. Very often, tarantulas bite in a “dry” way. As a result, irritation and pain occur in the affected area;
• Most tarantulas have poisonous hairs on their bodies, which the insect sheds in case of approaching danger. When the hairs come into contact with an enemy's body, they cause irritation and itching. In case of penetration into the respiratory tract, suffocation occurs. In the worst case, if hairs get into the mucous membrane of the eyes, vision loss is possible. Very often, domestic animals suffer from tarantula attacks: dogs, cats, rodents, and so on. That is why the owner must constantly monitor his pets. Spiders rarely attack first. Basically, this phenomenon can occur in the event of an approaching danger. First, the tarantula will demonstrate its readiness to attack. If the enemy is not afraid, the spider rushes at its victim.

The bite of even the most poisonous spider cannot lead to death. In order to find out whether a tarantula is poisonous and what the level of toxicity of its poison is, it is necessary to become more familiar with the breeds of insects known to science.

At home, tarantula spiders lead a peaceful lifestyle. They do not need to hunt in order to obtain food to survive and do not need to escape from enemies. All conditions have been created in the terrarium for the insect to feel completely safe.