These large hairy spiders are facing threats to their survival, primarily due to habitat destruction. As humans clear forests for various purposes, tarantulas lose their homes and food sources, pushing some species toward extinction.
Additionally, the exotic pet trade poses another danger. The high demand for pet tarantulas leads to their capture from the wild, resulting in declining populations. In response to the declining population, the US Fish and Wildlife Service decided to protect 11 species already considered threatened and endangered.
These species are the following: Poecilotheria formosa, Poecilotheria hanumavilasumica (endangered), Poecilotheria metallica (critically endangered and highly sought after in the global pet trade), Poecilotheria miranda, Poecilotheria rufilata, Poecilotheria striata, Poecilotheria fasciata, Poecilotheria ornate (near threatened), Poecilotheria pederseni, Poecilotheria smithi (vulnerable), and Poecilotheria subfusca (near threatened).
Conservation efforts also focus on captive breeding programs to meet the demand for pet tarantulas without harming wild populations.
What is your favorite tarantula fact? Share it on your social media feeds, and tag us!
The tarantula hawk wasps (also called the parasitic pepsis wasp) hunt tarantulas. The female wasp stings the tarantula to paralyze it. Then, it carries the tarantula's body back to the burrow and lays eggs on the spider's body. When the egg hatches, the wasp larvae will have a ready food source in the paralyzed spider, which they feed on as they grow.
Another interesting tarantula fact is that tarantulas prefer to live in forests, grasslands, deserts, savannas, mountains, and even coastal areas. Furthermore, most North American tarantulas dwell on the ground, but some species inhabit trees, cliffs, caves, or crops like bananas and pineapples.
They create burrows in arid regions such as the Southwestern United States, Mexico, Africa, and Asia. Tarantulas have also established themselves in Australia, including tree-dwelling species that inhabit forests, showcasing their adaptability to different habitats.
Next on our tarantula facts list: The name "tarantula" traces its origins back to the city of Taranto, located in southern Italy. The term originated in the 14th century when a peculiar dancing and sweating illness called "tarantism" spread in the region. The citizens believed that the cause of this condition was a bite from a venomous wolf spider (Lycosa tarantula), commonly called the "tarantula."
Although the spider responsible for tarantism was not a tarantula species, the name became associated with giant spiders with hairy legs over time. Today, the name "tarantula" describes this diverse group of spiders.
On the other hand, the Goliath Bird-Eating Tarantula, the biggest spider, did not get the name because they exclusively feed on birds. Thanks to their impressive size, it merely hints at their ability to take down various creatures, including birds.
Next on our tarantula facts list: The name "tarantula" traces its origins back to the city of Taranto, located in southern Italy. The term originated in the 14th century when a peculiar dancing and sweating illness called "tarantism" spread in the region. The citizens believed that the cause of this condition was a bite from a venomous wolf spider (Lycosa tarantula), commonly called the "tarantula."
Although the spider responsible for tarantism was not a tarantula species, the name became associated with giant spiders with hairy legs over time. Today, the name "tarantula" describes this diverse group of spiders.
On the other hand, the Goliath Bird-Eating Tarantula, the biggest spider, did not get the name because they exclusively feed on birds. Thanks to their impressive size, it merely hints at their ability to take down various creatures, including birds.
Another interesting tarantula fact is that tarantulas prefer to live in forests, grasslands, deserts, savannas, mountains, and even coastal areas. Furthermore, most North American tarantulas dwell on the ground, but some species inhabit trees, cliffs, caves, or crops like bananas and pineapples.
They create burrows in arid regions such as the Southwestern United States, Mexico, Africa, and Asia. Tarantulas have also established themselves in Australia, including tree-dwelling species that inhabit forests, showcasing their adaptability to different habitats.
The tarantula hawk wasps (also called the parasitic pepsis wasp) hunt tarantulas. The female wasp stings the tarantula to paralyze it. Then, it carries the tarantula's body back to the burrow and lays eggs on the spider's body. When the egg hatches, the wasp larvae will have a ready food source in the paralyzed spider, which they feed on as they grow.
These large hairy spiders are facing threats to their survival, primarily due to habitat destruction. As humans clear forests for various purposes, tarantulas lose their homes and food sources, pushing some species toward extinction.
Additionally, the exotic pet trade poses another danger. The high demand for pet tarantulas leads to their capture from the wild, resulting in declining populations. In response to the declining population, the US Fish and Wildlife Service decided to protect 11 species already considered threatened and endangered.
These species are the following: Poecilotheria formosa, Poecilotheria hanumavilasumica (endangered), Poecilotheria metallica (critically endangered and highly sought after in the global pet trade), Poecilotheria miranda, Poecilotheria rufilata, Poecilotheria striata, Poecilotheria fasciata, Poecilotheria ornate (near threatened), Poecilotheria pederseni, Poecilotheria smithi (vulnerable), and Poecilotheria subfusca (near threatened).
Conservation efforts also focus on captive breeding programs to meet the demand for pet tarantulas without harming wild populations.
What is your favorite tarantula fact? Share it on your social media feeds, and tag us!
Like spider wasps, the Tarantula Hawk wasp uses a paralyzing sting to immobilize its prey, including tarantulas, hence the name. Once the tarantula is captured, the wasp brings it to a specially prepared burrow. Then, it lays a single egg on the spider’s body. When the larva hatches, it begins feeding on the still-living tarantula.
This solitary wasp measures an average of two inches in length. It has a blue-black body with rust-colored wings.
Despite their gruesome hunting methods, Tarantula Hawks are relatively harmless to humans. They generally reserve their potent sting for their prey. However, if you do provoke them, they can give you an excruciating sting.
Unlike their larvae, adult Tarantula Hawks eat nectar, with a strong fondness for milkweed.
Before moving on to other types of wasps, here’s something to remember: Did you know that all hornets are wasps, but not all wasps are hornets?
Tarantula hawks are the largest wasps in the world. These large species can measure up to 2 inches long. These wasps are formidable predators capable of hunting down tarantula spiders, a food source for their larvae. The female tarantula hawk lays its eggs in the spider’s abdomen, and when these eggs hatch, they eat the spider alive.
What’s notable about the Tarantula hawk is their massive stingers. These stinging wasps have some of the most painful insect stings in the world. The pain from the tarantula hawk species Pepsis grossa sting is second only to the bullet ant.
These gardens were established between 1931 and 1940 when a new owner completely transformed the gardens of Villa Taranto to make them the floral oasis they are today.
