Texas Brown Tarantula

Texas Brown Tarantula, Aphonopelma sp.

The tarantula is easily recognized due to the large size as it is the heaviest spider by weight. The size alone often pegs them as dangerous, but no direct fatality has been recorded from the bee sting-like bite. Their true threat is the more likely attack of irritating urticating hairs which can be dislodge at the attacker. Truly quite docile, there are many tarantula species kept as pets. In Texas, and likely other places as well, spring brings migration as males wander to find females for mating. The main predator of the tarantula is the Tarantula Hawk, which immobilizes her prey, and lays her eggs inside for the larvae to eat their way out of the still living spider a few days later. The tarantula hawk is on record for having the greatest instantaneous pain in humans though the toxicity itself is low.