Arachnid
Desert Blonde Tarantula
Aphonopelma chalcodesAlso known as Arizona Blonde Tarantula, Western Desert Tarantula, Mexican Blonde Tarantula
The Desert Blonde Tarantula is a large ground-dwelling spider with a pale tan carapace contrasting with darker legs and abdomen. Females remain near silk-lined burrows for years, while mature males wander desert ground during the humid summer breeding season.
Burrowing TarantulaDesert ArachnidLong-lived Female
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyCrickets, Beetles, Cockroaches
Predators
- Tarantula hawk wasps
- Owls
- Coatis
ThreatsUrban development, road mortality, collecting, pesticides, burrow destruction, and prolonged drought
HabitatsSonoran Desert scrub, dry grassland, rocky foothills, washes, and stable soil suitable for burrows
Life spanFemales may exceed 20 years, while males die relatively soon after reaching maturity
Classification
- FamilyTheraphosidae
- SpeciesAphonopelma chalcodes
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskVery high
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is very high
- Defensive hairs can inflame skin or eyes, and a restrained tarantula's venomous bite usually causes localized pain.
- Why it is dangerous
- A threatened tarantula can kick barbed abdominal hairs that inflame skin and eyes, or inject mild venom in a defensive bite.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for a large hairy ground spider with a light blonde-tan carapace and contrasting dark legs and abdomen.
- What to do
- Do not touch or provoke it; avoid airborne hairs, rinse exposed eyes with clean water, and seek care for severe symptoms.
Responsible observation
- Distance: Let a wandering spider cross without surrounding, touching, or blocking it.
- Burrow: Never probe, excavate, flood, or cover a silk-lined retreat.
- Hairs: Step back if the spider turns its abdomen toward you or rubs it rapidly.
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