Unwanted pet

[melev]

My son happened to glance out the back patio door the other day and saw a tarantula working its way across the lawn. How he saw it is mind boggling, because my yard isn't tiny and there really is so much more to see, and to happen to notice a spider in my lawn is pretty miraculous. It isn't like it was some huge animal.

We took a few pictures, but opted to not bring it indoors.






In this picture, it was staying very still, possibly waiting for something to prey upon. We saw ants walk on the head, legs and body of the spider and it didn't move or care.

[Rosseau]

Is this a native spider to your area?

[Brian24]

Wow that is amazing. I didn't think tarantulas were prevalent in texas?

[thor32766]

yeah that is awesome. They arent native are they?

[phunckie]

If my wife were to see that in our back yard, she would have us packed & moving before the end of the week.....

[fatrip]

ahh come on they are great pets...LoL...only eat twice a week, live in a small environment, not to much clean up, low lighting needs... a model pet...LoL...

[phunckie]

lol.... true, except for the natural CREEP factor

[melev]

I don't have any answers to your questions. I'm just the photographer.

I've lived in Texas 20 years, and in this house for 7. First one I've seen.

[Iostream]

Yup, those are native to TX. We found the corpse of one outside that our pest control service got it seems. Spiders usually don't get killed unless directly sprayed, so I guess they got its burrow. Running across the lawn in daylight is rare this time of year though. Usually only males go roaming and I thought it was earlier in the year.

[bleedingthought]

Definitely not reef safe.

[raddogz]

Isn't this the time when they go hunting for a mate? I'm going camping this weekend in Central California this year and it's around October or so they looking for mates. Tarantula Hawks are out on the prowl as well - serious go check it on Google for these wasps - they are absolutely ginormous.

[jnarowe]

nice work Marc. But serioulsy, what kid wouldn't see a big spider? I know I would spot it immediately. It's spider time here too and we have these big ol' spiders all over the place.

[melev]

He glanced out the back door, something we do often enough. But to see that spider right there was surprising. If it was walking across the patio concrete, I'd be more inclined to see it. That was just random coincidence. I shot a brief video of it walking, but I don't know if it even needs to be posted.

[jnarowe]

some good music and props should make a nice video.

[token]

FWIW, that is, as previously noted, native to Texas and beyond, quite common and not particularly dangerous. It looks to be a darker-hued Aphonopelma chalcodes. The fact that you have one in your yard speaks very highly to your lawn care techniques as these spiders are sensitive to toxins ingested from their prey.

on the photo!

[melev]

Thanks Token. My lawn is all natural for the past 1.5 years. I just manually remove all the dandelion weeds. My preference is to use pre-emergent stuff along with fertilizer, but haven't done so in quite some time. We had a lot of rain this year, so nitrogen was free.

I've been hearing that these can jump, so I guess I'm lucky I didn't see that happen in person. I might have jumped higher.

On TV, I see people letting tarantulas walk on their arm. Had I had the nerve to try that with this one, and it decided to bite me, what would have happened?

[Iostream]

Originally posted by melev

On TV, I see people letting tarantulas walk on their arm. Had I had the nerve to try that with this one, and it decided to bite me, what would have happened?

They tend to warn before they bite, but even so a bite isn't a big deal at all to most people. lots of flying things hurt more My 4 yr old was bitten by a spider a few months ago. He never noticed it, or even complained about pain or itching. We found out because of the large and somewhat nasty looking bite mark on his leg that went away in a few days. Honestly had my wife never seen it and taken him to the Dr, we wouldn't have ever known he was bitten by anything. I don't think we have anything native to this area other than recluse and widows which are worth worrying about at all.

[jnarowe]

you're not worried about recluse spiders? They kill people all the time right?

And if you have an allergic reaction to any spider venom, you better get to an ER pronto!

[Lunchbucket]

One more reason that I DON'T live in Texas!!!!

Lunchbucket

[fatrip]

you're not worried about recluse spiders? They kill people all the time right?

i think he was stating that there arnt any other spiders worth worrying about other than the recluse and widow...lol...

[kevinl]

Cool shot. But looking at the grass "sharpen your cutting blades"
I have watched the weather all summer and Texas has been hit hard with rain "wet grass will dull the blades fast"
Your lawn "& pet" look GREAT!

[jnarowe]

heavy bladed grass too.

fatrip: On a re-read I thnk you are right...I just got confused I guess. Now I have had a beer, and it's all clear to me.

[Lunchbucket]

I'll agree your lawn looks darn good. Wish mine was that thick

Lunchbucket

[melev]

Originally posted by kevinl
Cool shot. But looking at the grass "sharpen your cutting blades"
I have watched the weather all summer and Texas has been hit hard with rain "wet grass will dull the blades fast"
Your lawn "& pet" look GREAT!

I put a new blade on my mower earlier this year, but I see what you are talking about. It is a mulching blade.

I do like a nice thick lawn, so I don't shave my yard like the neighbors. It is harder to mow even self-propelled, but looks better to me.

[gkarshens]

I've seen them several times at peoples houses that live on the outskirts of town here in Austin. They are totally harmless. The venomous ones are in S. America. I have watched kids pick them up and let them crawl all over them.