More than 220 different types of spiders belong to the genus of tarantulas. The Apulian tarantula is the most common. The family is called wolf spiders.
Where they meet
Habitat - Southern Europe with a temperate tropical climate. Some species can also be found in Russia. Spiders live in burrows. In cold weather, the entrance to it is covered with dry, cobweb-glued leaves.
Tarantulas are predators; they come out of their burrows in search of prey in the evening or at night. During the hunt, they behave very carefully, they approach the future victim slowly with frequent stops and then quickly, unexpectedly jump and bite. Until the poison took effect, they continue to pursue her. Very carefully protect their territory near the hole from strangers. They leave her only during the mating season.
Description
The Apulian tarantula (photo below) grows up to 7 cm in length. The body is brown-gray, covered with white fluffy hairs.
The whole body is as if lined with transverse and longitudinal stripes of light and dark shades. The span of the paws reaches 30 cm. The tarantula has the ability to regenerate limbs. During molting insteadof the torn off paw, a new one grows, which increases in size with each molt and acquires the desired size. On the head of the spider are very interesting and unusual three rows of shiny eyes. Four small balls are located in the lowest row, on top of which there are two large eyes and another pair is located on the sides. Thanks to the developed organs of vision, the tarantula closely monitors what is happening around it. Distinguishes silhouettes of insects, as well as shadow, light. Spiders have excellent hearing. Female tarantulas are larger than males and can weigh up to 90g.
Food
The Apulian tarantula spider eats:
- small frogs;
- crickets;
- flies;
- beetles;
- cockroaches;
- caterpillars;
- beetles;
- mosquitoes;
- spiders of other species.
Reproduction
Females live for about 4 years, males - up to 2. In spring, females come out of their holes and bask in the sun. In search of pairs can travel long distances. They take care of the female they like for a short time. They mate at the end of summer once in a lifetime, males die immediately, as the female, after fertilization, bites her lover. The eggs are laid in a burrow. Females wear them on themselves in a cobweb cocoon, carefully taking care of their future offspring. After maturation, young spiders crawl out of the cocoon and live on the belly of the female for some time. Growing up, spiders become independent and leave her. Sometimes the mother provokes the younger generation to enter adulthood earlier. She comes out of the mink and, spinning,sheds spiderlings from her body. Young people are looking for a new home and dig a hole for themselves, the size of which will increase as the spider grows.
Tarantula bite
The Apulian tarantula does not attack a person for no reason. If he is disturbed, he assumes a threatening posture: he stands on his hind legs, and raises his front legs and then attacks and bites, releasing a toxin. The bitten place can be burned with a match or cigarette to avoid the decomposition of the poison. For prevention, antiallergic drugs are taken. Oddly enough, but the best antidote is the blood of a tarantula. After killing the spider, lubricate the affected area with its blood, thereby neutralizing the effect of the toxin. Tarantula venom has low toxicity, swelling is formed at the bite site, which is very painful, and body temperature may also rise.
Creating a tarantula at home
These insects are kept in apartments despite their painful bites and quick responses.
Therefore, when keeping spiders, one should be careful, be collected, neat and attentive. Only one tarantula is settled in the terrarium, since when they live together with their brothers, they constantly fight to the bitter end, finding out who is stronger. The area of the dwelling should be spacious. The bottom of the terrarium is covered with a substrate, which includes moistened:
- peat;
- chernozem;
- humus;
- earth;
- clay;
- sand.
The insect is given the opportunity to dig a hole, so the thickness of the soilmake at least 20–30 cm. The terrarium should always be kept closed so that the tarantula cannot get out. House cleaning is carried out at least once every 40–45 days. The Apulian tarantula is not particularly whimsical about the temperature regime and feels good at a temperature of 18–30 degrees. To maintain humidity, you can put a container of water at the bottom of the terrarium.
Spider food is bought in specialized stores, they prefer:
- crickets;
- marble, Argentinean, Turkmen cockroaches;
- mealworm;
- zophobas larvae;
- slices of lean beef.
At least once a month add vitamins and calcium gluconate to food.
In captivity, the Apulian tarantula spider (description and content of which is presented above) lives twice as long. Its life expectancy depends on the number of molts and nutrition. The better the tarantula eats, the more often it molts and, therefore, lives less. For the longevity of the spider, you need to keep him from hand to mouth.
Interesting facts
In the 15th century, there was a belief that the bite of the Apulian tarantula was dangerous and caused a particularly dangerous disease. He was considered the culprit of the epidemics that were common at that time in the vicinity of Taranto in Italy.
The bites were treated in a very unusual way. The bitten was forced to dance until he lost consciousness. After such dances, a person instantly fell asleep, and woke up completely he althy.
Tarantulas do not weave webs, but only use nets to strengthen their homes.
