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Tarantula Mating Season Draws Enthusiasts to Colorado
This time of year marks the annual mating season for tarantulas in Colorado, attracting spider enthusiasts from across the country, including those as far away as California. As highlighted by Colorado’s public radio news, one town has even hosted a festival dedicated to celebrating these fascinating arachnids. However, amidst the revelry, the reality of tarantula mating often has fatal consequences, particularly for the males.
While tarantulas have garnered a negative reputation, the majority of species pose little threat to humans. They play a crucial role in the ecosystem, especially in southeastern Colorado’s vast prairies. Here, common brown tarantulas (encompassing various species within the Aphonopelma genus) predominantly dwell in underground burrows, but as the days shorten and temperatures drop in September and October, these spiders become more active around dusk. It is during this period that male tarantulas venture out in search of mates, a quest that could very well lead to their demise.
Males take approximately seven years to reach sexual maturity, eventually growing to about five inches in length. During mating season, they seek out female burrows, which are often signaled by the presence of silk webs. Upon locating a female, the male begins to tap on the ground with specialized appendages. If the female is receptive, she emerges from her burrow to meet him. However, this initial encounter could be fraught with danger for the male.
[Related: Newly discovered tarantulas may already be in danger.]
Once the male successfully grasps the female’s fangs with his legs, mating occurs rapidly, but he must detach swiftly. Unfortunately, many males do not escape in time and become a meal for their partner, who requires the nutrients for her subsequent brood. As noted by the Associated Press, this gruesome pattern is likely why males typically have a lifespan of just a year after achieving maturity, while females can live for two decades or more.
Following mating, the female will lay her eggs—potentially numbering up to 1,000—within a specially crafted silk hammock located in her burrow, which she vigilantly protects. The spiderlings hatch within 30 to 45 days and usually remain in the safety of their mother’s den for several days before dispersing into the wild to start their independent lives.
Experts who spoke with AP note that while the mating process is perilous for males, both parent spiders do not usually pose a significant risk to humans. Generally, they are non-aggressive and will bite only if they feel threatened. While their venom can result in painful reactions, it is rarely lethal—except in cases of severe allergies. Thus, if you find yourself observing tarantulas seeking mates, it is wise to appreciate them from a distance and allow nature to run its course. After all, the males are unlikely to heed any cautionary advice you may offer.
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www.popsci.com