Nature

Texas Brown Tarantula Mating Season Happens in 5, 4, 3…

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Tony Maples Photography

 

Mating season for the Texas brown tarantula will soon be here in Texas. Although some people have a healthy respect for these arachnids, others might be planning for high anxiety come August. Generally known to be active from May through October, the eighth month of the year (quite apropos) is when things get a little hairy for these critters. Their mating season brings them out to make appearances when generally they wouldn’t necessarily want to come in contact with humans.

Recognized as one of the most common tarantula species in the southern United States, Texas brown tarantulas are known to grow leg spans longer than 4 inches. Their body is traditionally dark brown, hence the name, with varying shades. The females can lay up to 1K eggs, which are held in their web, within their burrows, which they generally tend to stick close to throughout the 45-60-day hatching cycle. Once the baby spiders hatch, they are known to stay with the females for a number of days followed by dispersing in order to create their own burrows.

Texas Brown Tarantula Mating Season Happens in 5, 4, 3…

Photo: Facebook/Dakota Armstrong

Lindsey Meder, a zoologist with the Dallas Zoo, recently told wfaa.com, “Those guys you can find all over Texas, all over the southern United States. Females are going to get about 6 inches in length and males will be a little bit smaller… These guys are totally harmless. If you guys do see one in the wild just leave it alone. If you spook it, it’s probably just going to run back to its borough where it’s usually going to be found.” Despite outward appearances, the Texas brown tarantula has fangs and venom for the purpose of eating their own food sources, and not for the intent of harming human beings. “If you were to get bit that’s going to feel more like a bee sting, and they are not toxic to humans at all,” Meder explained to wfaa.com.

Texas Brown Tarantula Mating Season Happens in 5, 4, 3…

Photo: Instagram/rattlesnakerow

A Texas brown tarantula’s lifespan can vary between male and female. Males will live the shorter time frame, at approximately 12 years, while the females can live up to 36 years. They’re known to be relatively docile. However, if they feel threatened, they’ll rise on their front legs to make you aware. This is a sure sign that you should give them space. Although they will generally steer clear of you, they are also proficient at throwing urticating hairs from the area of their abdomen (something that doesn’t happen too often), and their bite has been likened to the sting of a bumblebee.