By Jessie Szalay - Live Science Contributor 24 December 2014.
When the wasp maggot hatches, it eats the tarantula and then emerges from the burrow as a fully mature wasp. TARANTULA. Mexican blond tarantula, desert tarantula, western desert tarantula Distribution: Arizona, Mexico Habitat: Desert Diet: Crickets and insects Lifespan: Females: 30 years maximum Males: 5-10 years : IUCN Conservation Status: Not Listed ... and desert areas of the world, with the majority found in South America. The name "tarantula" is also incorrectly applied to other large-bodied spiders, including the purseweb spiders or atypical tarantulas, the funnel-webs (Dipluridae and Hexathelidae), and the "dwarf tarantulas". Anatomy . After their final molt, males have smaller abdomens, longer legs and darker coloring, plus "hooks" on each front leg called mating spurs.
Tarantula native to the Mojave Desert searches for a burrow. The tarantula dines on the resultant "soup." Tarantula is the common name for a group of "hairy" and often very large spiders belonging to the family Theraphosidae, of which approximately 900 species have been found. Tarantula hawks are brightly-colored wasps with the wings that show black or metallic blue colors. Check out these amazing photos of desert tarantulas. One unique arachnid found not only in the Sonoran Desert but also in the Mojave and Chihuahuan deserts is the desert tarantula. Desert tarantulas inhabit arid regions of Arizona, New Mexico, and California. These are the spiders that, scientists believe, have been around for millions of years and have not changed much in that time!
Tarantula Family: Theraphosideae Genus & Species: Aphonopelma chaleodes The largest desert spider is not poisonous to humans but its bite can be terribly painful if provoked. This 3 to 4 inch (70 to 100 mm) large bodied, burrowing spider is commonly seen during the summer rainy season in southwestern deserts.
The wasp lays an egg on the spider and then seals up the burrow. Tarantula Facts. When it attacks prey such as an insect or another spider, the tarantula swiftly drives its fangs into the body and delivers the venom, which liquefies the insides, according to the Tarantula Facts internet site. Some experts include in this species only the populations in the Arizona region of the Sonoran Desert.
If a tarantula does feel threatened, it uses its hind legs to scrape barbed hairs (called urticating or stinging hairs) from its abdomen and flick them in the direction of the threat.
This page contains Mexican redknee tarantula facts for kids (and adults). Arizona blond tarantula Aphonopelma chalcodes. Tarantula (arrow) in typical habitat: General: Desert Tarantulas (Aphonopelma iodius; Family Theraphasidae) are large, interesting spiders that are common in the desert around Las Vegas.They eat insects, other spiders, small lizards, and probably anything else they can catch. The tarantula's venom glands are inside the basal part." Like other spider wasps, they have large eyes with antennae along with the long legs that are adapted to powerful flight.
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