Tarantula+Facts

//**Are tarantulas venomous?**// All tarantulas have venom but not enough to poison humans. Large tarantulas can take a painful bite out of a human, but their venom is weaker than from a typical bee sting. They use their venom to paralyze their prey. This depends on the breed or species.

//**Why do tarantulas have such hairy legs?**// Tarantulas use their hair to defend themselves. The hairs in their legs are sharp, with very tiny hooks at the end of them. These hairs dig into the skin, and even the eyes, of an enemy, causing burning and irritation. Some tarantulas can use their legs to kick hairs off and throw them at an enemy.

//**How long do tarantulas live?**// Male tarantulas live 10 to 12 years. Females can live much longer, sometimes up to 30 years! This also depends more on the type of a tarantula.

//**Predators **// Predators that the tarantula would be afraid of are weasels, hawks, owls, skunks and snakes. Their worst enemy is the Spider-Wasp. The female wasp will paralyze the spider by stinging it. She then digs a hole and puts the spider and an egg into it. When the egg hatches, the baby wasp will eat away at the paralyzed spider. The spider could stay buried alive for many days before the larvae hatch.

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