Aphonopelma chalcodes

Desert tarantulas, Aphonopelma chalcodes, are common throughout the Southwestern United States, especially Arizona, New Mexico, and Southern California. (Milne and Milne, 1980)

Aphonopelma chalcodes often resides in desert soil. It makes its home in burrows by digging itself under stones or by utilizing burrows discarded by rodents. It may live in the same burrow for decades. Since it lives in the desert, A. chalcodes is acclimated to harsh weather conditions. It does not require much water to survive, and can therefore survive in the extreme heat of the desert. (Miller, 1988)

While sexual dimorphism is apparent in adult A. chalcodes, it is not as drastic as seen in other species. Males have a diameter of 49 to 61 mm, whereas females range from 49 to 68 mm, with a leg span of approximately 98 mm. Desert tarantulas, like other tarantula species, have a body covered entirely with hair. Like all spiders, they are divided into two body segments: the cepholothorax and the abdomen. The cepholothorax is gray to dark brown and the abdomen is dark brown to black. Iridescent hair forms a pad below the tip of each of the eight legs (Milne and Milne, 1980). Tarantulas inject poison into their victims by biting them with fangs on the end of the chelicerae (Jackman, 1997). (Jackman, 1997; Milne and Milne, 1980)

When young A. chalcodes emerge from an egg, they all resemble females (Milne and Milne, 1980). It is not until later that sexual differentation occurs. Most spiderlings do not survive to reach sexual maturity (Jackman, 1997). They are either eaten by predators or do not find enough food to survive. (Jackman, 1997; Milne and Milne, 1980)

Male and female desert tarantulas have very different life expectancies. While it takes approximately 8 to 10 years to become sexually mature for both sexes (Miller, 1988), males, after molting for the last time, live for approximately 2 to 3 months. Females, however, continue to molt (shed their exoskeleton as they grow), and may live for up to 20 years. In captivity, females have been known to live for 25 years (Milne and Milne, 1980). (Miller, 1988; Milne and Milne, 1980)

Desert tarantulas are reclusive, nocturnal spiders. They usually hide in their burrows, under rocks, or in abandoned holes during the daylight hours (Milne and Milne, 1980). They hide because they are more vulnerable to predators such as birds and snakes during the day; additionally, their prey are also mainly nocturnal. Between June and December, males can be seen between twilight and sunrise actively searching for females (Miller, 1988). (Miller, 1988; Milne and Milne, 1980)

Aphonopelma chalcodes is a solitary creature which lives the majority of its life alone. It makes no sounds, and since tarantulas have poor vision, this species communicates with the outside world and the opposite sex primarily by touch. (Miller, 1988). (Miller, 1988)

Aphonopelma chalcodes spends much of the day hiding in its burrow. When the sun sets, it emerges and begins to search for food.

Foods eaten: lizards, crickets, beetles, grasshoppers, cicadas and caterpillars. (Safra, 1998)

Humans pose no real threat to desert tarantulas at this time, and A. chalcodes has few natural predators. Only birds and two parasitic insect species (a fly and a tarantula wasp) have been recorded as killing these spiders. When disturbed, desert tarantulas maneuver to face the threat, raise up on their hind legs, and stretch their front legs in a threatening posture. Aphonopelma chalcodes may also rapidly brush the top of its abdomen with its hind legs, which dislodges urticating hairs that can irritate the eyes or skin of an attacker (Jackman, 1997). These poisonous hairs can cause rashes or even partial blindness in the attacker (Miller, 1988). (Jackman, 1997; Miller, 1988)

These spiders presumably impact insect population through their predatory behaviors. As a possible prey species, A. chalcodes may have some positive influence on the populations of its predators and parasites. (Jackman, 1997; Miller, 1988)

Aphonopelma chalcodes does not have a great negative impact on humans. Although its bite is painful, it is not highly poisonous. The venom is similar to that of a mosquito or a bee sting. (Miller, 1988)

Aphonopelma chalcodes has little economic value to humans. It is sometimes sold as a pet, due to its gentle nature and easy maintenance (Miller, 1988). Desert tarantulas also control pests by eating beetles, grasshoppers, millipedes, and other spiders (Miller, 1988). (Miller, 1988)

Aphonopelma chalcodes is not endangered in any way.

Aphonopelma chalcodes is often a victim of parasitism. A species of fly lays its eggs on the tarantula's back, and when the larvae hatch, they devour the tarantula. A species of wasp, known as tarantula hawks, attack these tarantulas, and if successful, inject their victim with poison and paralyze it. The wasp then drags the tarantula back to its nest and places it next to its eggs. The tarantula can often live for a few months in this paralyzed state, until the eggs hatch and then eat the tarantula. (Miller, 1988)