On the Tarantula

 

 

My name means

Wolf spider

But I’m not

A

Big biter.

My body’s

Quite hirsute

In or out

Of a suit.

Though I emit silk

I don’t secrete milk.
 

I’ve got two eyes

But I don’t use them as much

As I do my sense of touch.

My exoskeleton does

some molting

And this can look a little
revolting.

 

If I’m a male

I’m not as large

As a female.

I like to eat insects

But I’ll eat a lizard or a mouse

When each one least expects

It.

1561, "wolf spider," (Lycos tarantula), from M.L. tarantula, from It. tarantola, from Taranto "Taranto," seaport city in southern Italy in the region where the spiders are frequently found, from L. Tarentum, from Gk. Taras (gen. Tarantos). Its bite is only slightly poisonous. Popularly applied to other great hairy spiders, especially the genus Mygale, native to the warmer regions of the Americas (first so called in 1794).

Tarantulas may live for years--most species taking 2 to 5 years to reach adulthood, but some species may take up to 10 years to reach full maturity. Upon reaching adulthood, males typically have but a 1 to 1.5 year period left to live and will immediately go in search of a female with which to mate. It is rare that upon reaching adulthood the male tarantula will molt again. The oldest spider, according to Guinness World Records, lived to be 49 years old.

Females will continue to molt after reaching maturity. Female specimens have been known to reach 30 to 40 years of age, and have survived on water alone for up to 2.5 years.