Desert Tarantula

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The Desert Tarantula (Aphonopelma chalcodes), also called the Desert Blonde Tarantula, is the largest native spider of the desert Southwest.

Most people who visit the desert areas never see one because they are nocturnal hunters, with a diet consisting mostly of insects and small lizards. During daylight hours, they retreat to their burrows.

The late summer mating season would be the exception to the no see rule because it brings the males out of their burrows for extended periods of time.

Like all spiders, they do bitek however their venom is not particularly toxic to humans.

© 2009 Patricia A. Michaels