March 2008 Archives

Thanks for stopping by! Whether you are a dedicated tarantula hobbyist or simply curious, I hope this blog will be entertaining as well as educational. Tarantulas have not been studied as extensively as other creatures and as a result, there are many myths about them. Add to that the fierce reputation that books and movies have created, and you have a terrifying, deadly monster that has been feared for centuries. In my blog, I'll debunk one myth about tarantulas each week. I welcome comments and questions and hope you'll return often to learn about these amazing creatures!

There are over 850 known species of tarantulas with more being discovered as we continue to explore the remote regions of Earth. None are deadly. In fact, there has never been a recorded case of a human being dying from a tarantula bite.

New World species (from the Americas; South, Central, North, etc.) have very mild venom. The effect is comparable to a bee sting, however the chemical makeup is much different. If you are allergic to bee venom, you aren't necessarily allergic to tarantula venom. Having been bitten by New World species, I can say that the effect on me was much less painful than a bee sting. I experienced only local redness and a mild stinging sensation that lasted barely 5 minutes.

Old World species (from Asia, Africa, India, etc.) have stronger venom. The effects have been reported to cause intense pain, muscular cramping, profuse sweating, rapid heartbeat, vomiting, fever, chills and shortness of breath. The effects differ drastically between victims. From firsthand experience, I can say that a bite from an African species is extremely painful and sent me straight to urgent care for pain management! I also experienced "Charlie horse" type leg cramps for several months.

All species possess fangs that can look quite intimidating. Due to their needle-like sharpness, the actual wound from the fangs piercing your skin is almost nonexistent.

Probably due to their weaker venom, New World species have itchy urticating hairs on their abdomen. Old world species lack these hairs. When threatened, a New World species will use their back legs to kick these hairs into the air around the attacker. To humans, the hairs are usually just an itchy nuisance, although some people suffer allergic reactions. To a gecko or other small creature, these hairs can cause severe respiratory irritation and even blindness.