Since ancient times, people considered tarantulas to be one of the most dangerous and poisonous creatures on Earth. These animals have always been mistrusted. Until now, the tarantula spider causes fear in one of its appearance. But much about him is exaggerated and unfounded. Let's see who the entrants are and how dangerous they are.
Exotic threat
The spider tarantula owes its name to the city of Taranto in Italy. It is in its vicinity that the Apulian tarantulas live - the largest of all their relatives, reaching a length of 6 centimeters. The name of the famous Italian Tarantella Tarantella has the same roots. Since it was previously believed that the bite of a tarantula makes a person crazy to recover, people danced in the frantic rhythm of a tarantella. In general, a tarantula - a spider is not very poisonous, in any case, for a person his bites can end tragically only with the development of a sharp allergic reaction. Thus, for humans, it does not pose a mortal danger and never attacks first, and can only bite for self-defense purposes.
Where does he live?
Tarantula habitats are steppes, semi-deserts and deserts. These arachnids are thermophilic, therefore they are found in Italy (Apulian), Spain, Portugal and in the south of the European part of Russia (South Russian tarantula spider, photo below).
Tarantulas living in Russia are called misgiri. Their color varies depending on the habitat and is designed to serve them as a good disguise. That is why the color scheme of the mizgira color begins with light brown tones, the color of the soil, and ends with dark shades.
Spider life
On the slopes of the mountains, a tarantula spider has a habit of digging burrows, the depth of which reaches fifty centimeters. There he rests in the daytime, and at night goes to hunt for insects. The tarantula spider spends winter time in its mink, after warming its entrance with dry plants and cobwebs.
These dangerous arthropods are very beautiful in their own way. No wonder they have so many fans. They captivate and attract the eye thanks to long shaggy paws and bright color. These are practically the largest spiders. Moreover, female tarantulas are much larger than males and reach a length of 4 cm.
Spider weddings
Tarantula females are very harsh. After the act of mating, which traditionally occurs at the end of summer and lasts about ten hours, the male must quickly retreat, so as not to be eaten. At the end of spring, the female lays eggs in a cocoon from the web and closely guards it. As soon as offspring is born, for some time the female carries young spiders on her back. Then they begin to live independently and separately, pulling out a separate mink for themselves, and the circle of life is repeated again.
Who are the spiders afraid of?
Enemies of tarantulas are wasps of the genus Pompilus, mantis, scorpions and scolopendras. Of the pets, sheep are a danger to the tarantula, as they can eat the tarantula without experiencing any discomfort. In addition, spiders often engage in battle with each other, sometimes both soldiers die.
Thus, the tarantula spider is a prominent representative of the family of wolf spiders. It lives in a warm climate, leads a nocturnal lifestyle, and is a poisonous predator.
