Page 65 - 2004 DT 9 Issues

Tarantula! mate. The male’s life span is counted living spider into her burrow, she
in months now, unless the female kills deposits her eggs in the spider’s abdo-
ust the word “tarantula” is enough him during courtship. She, on the other men, then seals it in. When the eggs
to produce nightmares in most hand, may live up to 30 years, repro- hatch, the larvae feed on the tarantula’s
Jpeople. Think James Bond in Dr. ducing to the end. In her burrow, the body. Now that’s nasty!
No tucked in for the night (solo), when female releases a mixture of eggs and While fooling with a wild taran-
a large, hairy, fanged, venomous, hun- sperm, seals the cocoon with more silk, tula is not recommended, (if threatened
gry, lethal critter makes its way slowly and stands guard at the entrance. it can shoot urticating hairs from the
up his arm. In reality, Bond was in Anywhere from 500 to 1,000 young underside of its abdomen which will
greater danger from the local mosqui- tarantulas hatch, emerging 6 to 9 irritate the skin) bites are rare and only
toes. Unfortunately, the myths about weeks after fertilization. In 2 or 3 mildly venomous. Slight swelling,
the tarantula are more entertaining and weeks, they leave home, ready to itching, and numbness will shortly dis-
enduring than the facts. spread more fear and terror in the appear in the unlikely event that
Size matters when it comes to hearts of humankind. you’re bitten.
instilling horror. The tarantula is our Although a spider, the tarantula If your fears have now been al-
heaviest spider. One of the largest spe- does not spin a web to catch prey. A layed, it’s said that tarantulas make
cies, the Goliath Tarantula, reaches a nocturnal hunter, it catches its victims very nice pets. It’s best to buy a do-
body length of 5 on the run, mestically bred animal from a dealer.
inches with a leg overtaking If, however, you still persist in your
span of up to 12 most small irrational behavior, there’s help for
inches (prime insects your phobia through virtual reality
Hollywood mate- within range. therapy. Studies at the University of
rial) and lives Grasshop- Washington have shown that confront-
only in South pers, beetles, ing your demons in the safe, yet
America. crickets, realistic, cyberspace of “SpiderWorld”
Because of its other spi- and touching a solid and fuzzy “taran-
size and overall ders, and tula” with a virtual hand can
appearance, the even an oc- substantially reduce your anxiety.
gentle tarantula is casional Soon, tarantulas may become
one of the more maligned denizens of small lizard, benefactors of the environment in a
the desert. Spiders are arachnids, not are fair game. Once caught, there’s no project called “Venom Venture.”
insects. The typical tarantula you’ll escape. Venom is injected through the Cornell University, in Ithaca, New
meet on your Mojave Desert hike has tarantula’s fangs into the hapless York, is “bioprospecting” for com-
a body length of about 1 1/2 to 3- victim now locked in the grasp of pounds in nature that are useful to
inches. Its 8 legs may add another 3 or sturdy palps. The meal is ground into science. The financial benefits derived
more inches a side. a ball, injected with a digestive fluid, from the resulting research could be
Now is the time to go tarantula and sucked up. Or, the ball may be used to protect the natural resources
wrapped in silk and saved for later.
viewing. These somewhat nocturnal from which they’re derived. The
creatures begin their mating season in The tarantula, too, makes a tasty project will target a huge range of ani-
the fall during what is called the “ta- meal for lizards, snakes, birds, and mals and plants that hold potentially
rantula migration.” Love struck males some mammals. But if the tarantula is life-saving compounds. And . . . you
leave home between September and your special nightmare, consider the guessed it . . spider-venom is tops on
December looking for a receptive fe- spider’s own fiercest enemy—the ta- the list as the most promising drug
male who leaves her scent on the silk rantula hawk. This large black/red/ prospect. So, try to cut the tarantula a
cocoon she has constructed in her green wasp stings the poor tarantula, little slack. Who knows? It may one
burrow. After his courtship dance, they paralyzing it. After dragging the still- day save your life.
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