Firstly many tarantulas have urticating hairs that they kick off. Tarantulas can kick these hairs off, creating a cloud of irritants if they feel threatened. After molting, the bald spot will be gone. They can be found on and around the burrow entrance and in webbing for protection (for example, some subfamily Theraphosinae species include these bristles in cocoon silk). They are located on the pedipalps. Some are used for sensing vibration, some tarantulas have stridulating bristles used to create sounds (the loud “hissing” sound created by some species is created in this way) but the type of most concern to tarantula keepers are those used for defence – the urticating hairs found on the opisthosoma (abdomen) of many new world species. My B. smithi will often kick hairs as soon as the lid comes off her enclosure, and when that happens the best bet is to keep your distance. Tarantulas that kick hairs regularly can get a small bald patch on their abdomen which would be full of urticating hairs again after the next moult. Unusually, Type III urticating hair is found alone on the species of Theraphosa spp., but these otherwise are similar to many species that also have Type I hairs. Are tarantula hairs dangerous? Required fields are marked *, You may use these HTML tags and attributes:

, Got a pet tarantula? Generally most bristles are only irritating, but some are dangerous to the eyes and respiratory tract, and some can cause severe skin necrosis and shedding. That means you should always wear gloves when dealing with old substrate or cleaning dishes. Do Tarantula Hairs Itch? These barbed bristles can be kicked or flicked off the abdomen by the tarantula’s rear legs, causing a cloud of these tiny hairs which cause irritation, discomfort and pain when they embed themselves in the skin or eyes of a would-be predator. Does a Tarantula Losing It’s Hair Mean It … It isn’t the case that only old tarantulas lose their hair; even young specimens are perfectly capable of kicking off their hairs if they feel threatened. Types III and IV are the most irritating to mammalian predators. Type I and III urticating hairs are representative on a wide diversity of large bodied genera in the subfamily Theraphosinae Lasiodora and Acanthoscurria Nhandu spp., Megaphobema spp., Sericopelma spp., Eupalaestrus spp., Proshapalopus spp., Brachypelma spp., Cyrtopholis spp., and others, although some only have Type I in mature males. September 2007, S. 232-237, "Morphology, evolution and usage of urticating setae by tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae)", United States Environmental Protection Agency, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Urticating_hair&oldid=1000310377, All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from January 2010, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 14 January 2021, at 16:04. As they are kicked off, the tarantula may develop a “bald patch” on its abdomen, but this will be renewed at the next moult (see picture of a B. Smithi with a clearly defined bald patch). The Tliltocatl albopilosus known as the Curly Hair Tarantula has recently seen the common name in the hobby split into the Nicaraguan Curly Hair (true form) and the Honduran Curly Hair (curly hair). Males of this species only live 3 or 4 years but the females can live up to as long as 14 years. This little guy is a curly hair tarantula at the Philadelphia Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion. Urticating hairs do not appear at birth but form with each consecutive molt, widening from molt to molt and outwardly presenting themselves around areas of more dark bristles on the upper back part of the abdomen of juveniles. A gorgeous display tarantula for the conscientious keeper. In elder ages their coloration shifts to match the main tone of abdomen. Kicking hairs is most NW tarantulas first line of defense. This is a wonderful tarantula, as mine stays out on display most of the time, are gorgeous, and enjoyable to … Despite this shift, urticating hairs nonetheless retain unique characteristics that render them visually distinct from abdominal bristles, such as their tendency to cover only a portion instead of the entirety of the opisthosoma. Urticating hairs are a defense mechanism used by tarantulas. This is a staple species in the hobby and has been around for a long time. If the tarantula feels threatened or scared they are able to kick off the hairs, creating a cloud of irritating hairs … Don’t rub your eyes or touch your face while working with Ts, and wash your hands straight away afterwards. There are seven different types of urticating hair known in tarantulas, varying in size and shape, particularly the distribution of barbs.[11]. The term urticating comes from urtica, the Latin word for “nettle”. Reactions: bestco, Denny Dee and Tomoran. I would highly advise wearing glasses or some sort of eye protection when working with new world tarantulas, particularly those you’ve not worked with before, or which are known to be “flicky”. Increased use of webbing. Others, such as those of the Brazilian giant white knee tarantula (Acanthoscurria geniculata), are moderately irritating. These are easily thrown by the spider into the air (Marshal and Uetz, 1990). The urticating setae or spines can cause irritation when they break off and lodge in skin. ; Guimarães, Jorge A. McCullough, Deborah G., Raffa Kenneth A., Chris Williamson R. Natural Enemies of Gypsy Moth: The Good Guys. Type III alone is found in many 'dwarf' new world genera Hapalopus spp.. With luck none of the hairs will have embedded into your eye and though sore, it should clear up relatively quickly. These float in the air, turning into a cloud of irritating hairs. The reactions can last for several hours to weeks. This is thought to discourage fly larvae from consuming their eggs and young. Examples of avian predators other than cuckoos that feed on "hairy" caterpillars include at least tens of species from several continents. A number of different types are known, and these have different arrangements of barbs which cause varying degrees of irritation on the skin or mucous membrane (such as inside the nose or throat). You don’t want to transfer loose bristles from your fingers to your eyes! The reaction typically varies from person to person, anywhere from a … There are cases where they can friction their abdomen on areas around the enclosure, even the "roof" of their hides can be enough to get some hairs out. For most people, a few hairs on their skin will only cause a minor irritation; some itching which may continue for a few hours. Pinto, Antônio F.M. Families prominent in this respect include the following:[2][3][4][5]. They are not found in tarantulas from other parts of the world.[11]. edited 4 years ago. These bristles can embed themselves in the other animal's skin or eyes, causing physical irritation, usually to great discomfort. Several lepidopteran families include species whose larvae bear urticating hairs. [9][10], Urticating hairs (setae) are found in about 90% of the species of tarantula (spiders of the family Theraphosidae) found in the New World. Generally they are relatively harmless. “Urticating hairs” is actually a bit of a misnomer – urticating bristles is more correct, since “hairs” grow from follicles and are only found on mammals. [7] For brown-tail moths (Euproctis chrysorrhoea) native to Europe and invasive in other parts of the world, bristles are shed or broken off during molts and can be wind-borne, so that direct contact with live or dead larvae is not required to trigger a rash. Various plants unrelated to true nettles (Urtica species) possess similar defensive bristles, and the common names often reflect this (e.g. They can kick hairs off their abdomens that can irritate a person's skin and cause damage if they get in your eyes. In some species these structures are hollow and connected to venom-producing cells, functioning like a hypodermic needle. Some, such as those of the Chilean rose tarantula (Grammastola rosea) and the pinktoe tarantula (Avicularia avicularia), are fairly mild and innocuous to humans. You can often tell when a tarantula doesn’t want to be disturbed, and you can often clearly see when they kick hairs. Most of the new world Ts that are commonly kept by beginners do have urticating bristles, so unless you’re absolutely sure, assume they do! Because of the vigorous rubbing and the gossamer quality of the shafts, these urticating hairs become airborne in … Urticating hairs can also be found protecting tarantula egg sacs (Avicularia spp. And finally, be aware that old exuvium (moulted skin) can still possess urticating hairs, so treat them with care in the same way you would a live tarantula! Petroleum jelly has also been noted to work. Urticating hairs or urticating bristles are one of the primary defense mechanisms used by numerous plants, almost all New World tarantulas, and various lepidopteran caterpillars. Unfortunately there is no way to know for sure if you’ll be allergic if you’ve not come into contact with them before, so take extra care the first time dealing with any new world species known to kick hairs. In general, urticating hairs are a minor problem so long as precautions are taken. First of all, know whether the tarantula you’re dealing with has urticating hairs by researching the species. Common presenting symptoms of ocular injury from tarantula hairs include conjunctival injection, foreign body sensation, periorbital facial rash, photophobia, and tearing. [17], Human reactions to urticating hair contact. If seriously stimulated or gripped, lasiocampid larvae are likely to lash about, forcing the stinging bristles into any vulnerable organ within reach. The hair-like bristles found on tarantulas are only superficially similar to hair, they don’t grow from follicles, and in fact they differ greatly in terms of structure, shape, and purpose. Type V urticating hair is typical of the species of genus Ephebopus. The term urticating hairs is a misnomer, as technically only mammals possess true hairs.[1]. For most people, the irritation will subside over a few hours, but if it appears to be worsening or lingering, or if it’s accompanied by swelling or severe redness then seek medical advice (see picture, an allergic reaction to urticating bristles on the skin. This species has a reputation of being very docile and rarely kicking hairs but bare in mind temperament can differ between specimens and even between molts of the same specimen. Type IV is found in several South American genera Grammostola, Euathlus etc (exhibits types III and IV). Take care when doing cage maintenance, and consider wearing gloves when changing substrate etc. Because many of these symptoms are similar to other diagnoses, the presence of ocular injury secondary to tarantula hairs can be initially difficult to detect. These barbed bristles can be kicked or flicked off the abdomen by the tarantula’s rear legs, causing a cloud of these tiny hairs which cause irritation, discomfort and pain when they embed themselves in the skin or eyes of a would-be predator. Urticating hairs (setae) are found in about 90% of the species of tarantula (spiders of the family Theraphosidae) found in the New World. Treating urticating hair reactions – Article on Arachnophiliac.info, Got a pet tarantula? If urticating bristles get into the eyes they can cause a lot of pain, and real damage. New World tarantulas will, at the moment of danger, turn toward the attacker and briskly rub their hind legs against the opisthosoma throwing the urticating hairs in the direction of the enemy. Not all tarantulas have urticating hairs. The most obvious characteristic that people first notice about this tarantula species is its intimidating appearance. Tarantulas may make a mat out of silk for molting. [8], In spite of such defenses, some species of birds feed avidly on "hairy" caterpillars. Rose Hairs also rarely, if ever, kick their irritating hairs. In humans, urticating hairs can cause allergic skin reactions which can manifest as inflammation, rash and itching. Some tarantulas shed bristles as territorial markings, so even if the tarantula is not present, there may well be loose bristles on the substrate or webbing which can still cause problems. May kick hairs but typically calms down after a minute. On the off chance that the Brazilian black tarantula was to kick hairs to defend itself, getting those hairs in your eyes or inhaling them could be potentially harmful. The cloud of small bristles will get into the mucous membrane of small mammals and cause edema, which can be fatal. A tarantula accomplishes this peculiar feat by using one of its back legs to repeatedly rub its abdomen and shake loose the guard hairs that coat it. Toxins from the broken bristles may spill out, causing dermatitis on the surface of the skin. They are not found in tarantulas from other parts of the world. I actually find it more difficult to get this… Many New World tarantulas (those from the Americas) possess specialised hairs known as urticating hairs. Michigan State University Extension Bulletin E-2700, April 1999, Chao-Kai Hsu, Mark Ming-Long Hsur, Rick C. West, Yau-I Chu: Skin Injury Caused by Urticating Hair of Tarantula. NAME: Curly Hair Tarantula (Brachypelma Albopilosum) TYPE: New World Ground-Dwelling TEMPERAMENT: Quite docile and calm. ; Berger, Markus; Reck, José, Jr.; Terra, Renata M.S. The best form of treatment is prevention, right? The latest studies[which?] Yes, most species of tarantulas native to the Americas have urticating hairs that they flick or kick off their abdomen when they feel threatened. Kicking Off Urticating Hairs. The most common form of urticating hairs in plants are typified by nettles, which possess sharp-pointed hollow bristles seated on a gland that secretes an acrid fluid. Each type of urticating hair is believed to target different enemies. Sep 23, 2014 #3 bestco Active Member. However, some keepers have reported aggressive Rose Hairs, so the temperament depends on the individual as well. Many tarantula species eject bristles from their abdomens, directing them toward potential attackers. Urticating hairs are intended to be a deterrent for predators. The bristles are normally retracted into a shallow fold in the skin, but if the caterpillar is disturbed, it everts the folds and displays the bristles, which are usually of a contrasting color. That said, your T looks like perfectly ok. [13], Genera with the most urticating hairs are Lasiodora, Grammostola and Acanthoscurria.[14][15]. Type VI urticating hair is found in the genus Hemirrhagus. Type III urticating hairs are most efficient for defense against vertebrates and invertebrates. Certain species of Lonomia in the family Saturniidae actually can inject venom that is life-threatening to humans.[6]. Don’t try and handle or move a T which is flicking, don’t lean over the enclosure or get your face too near, and don’t breath in right over your T or the enclosure (remember, even if the tarantula isn’t present there may well be loose bristles in the enclosure!). Still others, such as the Goliath birdeater (Theraphosa blondi), are far more severe. However, there is at least one aviculariine species - Caribena versicolor - which can kick type II urticating hairs off of the abdomen, similarly to species from the subfamily Theraphosinae. Type II urticating hairs can be found in the genera Avicularia, Iridopelma and Pachistopelma (subfamily Aviculariinae). They [the hairs] are basically akin to little pieces of fiberglass," said Steinle, who noted rubbing hairs off the abdomen is often a tarantula's first line of defense, rather than biting. [8][16] Ophthalmia nodosa, an irritation reaction, can result when the barbed bristles lodge in the cornea. This term also refers to certain types of barbed bristles that cover the dorsal and posterior surface of a tarantula's or caterpillar's abdomen. Image sourced from Wikipedia). They are most commonly present on the abdomen of the spider. This is my experience with tarantula urticating hairs. It’s also important to remember that tarantulas will often kick hairs around their enclosures, even if you don’t see them do it. They don't go too far, maybe a few inches to a few feet at most. suggest these bristles cause both mechanical and chemical harm to the skin and membranes. The bristles don’t appear at birth, but each time the tarantula moults, new ones are added. ORIGIN: New World (Chilie) TYPE: Ground-dwelling. Tarantulas have bristles all over their bodies, and different types are used for different purposes. Defined targets for some bristle types are unknown. Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae (technically, spiders possess setae, not true hairs).Currently, about 1,000 species have been identified. Urticating hairs are finely barbed and cause irritation when they come into contact with the skin, eyes or nose of potential predators. Tarantulas also sometimes develop a bald spot on their abdomen that grows increasingly darker as the molt draws near (a bald spot can also occur in New World tarantulas that have been kicking off their urticating hairs).
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