A to Z of Pests

Tarantulas

Genus Aphonopelma

Appearance

• Adult body length excluding legs – 2.5-13cm. Most tarantulas have black or brown hairy bodies and legs but some species exhibit striking colours.

Lifecycle

• Mating season is in autumn. Incubation of the young takes 6-9 weeks, with each female producing 500-1000 eggs into a silken cocoon. The young leave their burrow after 2-3 weeks.
• Life span 25-40 years.

Habits

• There are 60+ genii and 800+ species of tarantula.
• Tarantulas prefer to live in dry, well-drained soil where they dig a burrow which is lined with silk webbing.