Types of Tarantulas Found Living in the State of Utah

An Overview of Tarantulas Found in Utah

The state of Utah is home to a diverse range of spider species, including several types of tarantulas. Tarantulas are large, hairy spiders that have become popular as pets due to their docile nature. While the majority of tarantulas are not dangerous to humans, some species do have venom that can cause mild irritation, so caution is still warranted around these large arachnids.

Desert Blonde Tarantula

One of the most common tarantulas found in Utah is the Desert blonde tarantula (Aphonopelma chalcodes). These spiders can grow to have a legspan around 5 inches across. As their name suggests, they tend to reside in arid, desert-like habitats. Their coloration ranges from pale tan to a dark brown. Desert blonde tarantulas are relatively docile and rarely bite when handled, though their urticating hairs can cause skin irritation in some people.

Texas Brown Tarantula

Texas brown tarantulas (Aphonopelma hentzi) are also found across parts of southern Utah. They earned their name from their native range across Texas, but they can flourish in scrublands and deserts across the Southwest. As heavy-bodied tarantulas, they can grow a legspan around 4-5 inches. Their dark brown coloring helps provide camouflage in dusty burrows and desert soils. Like Desert blondes, Texas browns have mild venom that has minimal effects on humans.

Baja Brown Tarantula

The Baja brown tarantula (Aphonopelma eutylenum) makes its home across parts of southern California and Utah. As their name suggests, their range also extends down into Mexico's Baja California peninsula. They are a smaller species, with mature females having a 2-3 inch legspan. Their venom is relatively harmless and their first defense is actually flicking urticating hairs from their abdomen at potential threats. These hairs can irritate skin and eyes.

Tarantula Habitats Found in Utah

Tarantulas reside across a variety of desert and scrubland habitats found throughout Utah. They often reside underground in self-dug burrows that provide shelter from extreme daytime heat and cold nights. These burrows are lined with silk webbing for structural reinforcement and they typically have a layer of soil spread over the entrance for camouflage.

Desert Scrubland

Tarantulas are well-adapted to thrive in desert scrubland ecosystems characterized by rocky soils, small bushes and grasses, cacti, and other drought-resistant vegetation. The burrows provide humidity and security, while the tarantulas emerge at dusk to hunt for prey across open ground. Commonly spiders hunt insects, small lizards, snakes and rodents that also make the harsh desert home.

Canyon Lands

While less common than desert scrublands, tarantulas can also dwell across the rocky, dry terrain found in Utah's canyon lands. Protected pockets in cliff walls and underground caverns lined with spider silk provide shelter. Unique species adapted to semiaquatic habitats also exist near streams and seasonal water flows cutting through the canyons. These species have specialized hairs that allow them to detect and locate damp areas.

Woodlands

Certain Utah woodland areas with pockets of sandy soil and access to prey like insects, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians can also provide a suitable habitat for select tarantula species. However vegetation is generally sparser in tarantula-inhabited woodlands than humid forests. Rocky outcroppings, dead logs and small clearings often mark the kinds of microhabitats tarantulas prefer even in wooded areas.

Utah's Tarantulas Are Considered Harmless

While tarantulas may elicit fear in some people unfamiliar with their behavior, Utah's native tarantulas should generally be considered harmless to humans. Their size, speed, and hair-flicking behaviors are more useful for deterring predators in the wild than posing any serious danger to people.

Mild Venom

All tarantulas do produce venom when they bite, but most species native to North America deliver only mildly toxic venom to humans in self-defense situations. At most, a bite will produce localized swelling, numbness, or irritation around the affected area. Severe allergic reactions are possible but extremely rare.

Urticating Hairs

The urticating hairs tarantulas flick from their abdomens can cause skin itching and eye irritation but they are not venomous. These hairs are used more for confusing and deterring small predators than posing a danger to humans.

Docile spiders

Most tarantulas native to Utah are calm and docile when handled. Bites typically only occur if the spider is being harassed or squeezed. While handling any spider comes with an inherent risk, tarantulas rarely bite or flick hairs without significant provocation when controlled by a respectful owner.

So in summary, Utah is home to a variety of tarantula species well-adapted to arid and desert environments across the state. While their large size and hair flicking behaviors may seem frightening, these spiders pose very little danger to humans. With proper handling precautions, tarantulas can make unique and low maintenance animal companions.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.