INTRODUCTION
All across the globe there are amazing ecosystems that contain millions of differing plants, animals, and insects. These creatures and life forms both great and small, each and everyone are ideally adapted for the environments that they call home. One such rich ecosystem is the Sonora Desert. This locale is a vast desert that stretches across multiple states in the southwestern areas of the United States. Of all of the many reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals that call the desert home, there is one creature more than any that remains entirely misunderstood; Aphonopelma chalcodes, also known as the Arizona Blond Tarantula. While often portrayed as a big, hairy spider, with fangs with drops of venom on them, waiting to pounce on you in the darkness is a little extreme. The truth is quite different. Most Tarantulas are not poisonous are not a threat to human beings at all (Casey 1). In order to understand the Blond Tarantula better it is important to review their physical characteristics, environment, diet, and its place in the Sonora Desert’s ecosystem.
HISTORY
The Sonora Desert spans over 120,000 miles across three states, California, Colorado, and Arizona, as well as sharing a border with Mexico. There are a number of subdivisions of the Sonora Desert, including Lower Colorado River Valley, Arizona Upland, Plains of Sonora, Central Gulf Coast, Vizcaino, Magdalena and Foothills of Sonora. (Terminel, Ferguson, & Tubac 2). This vast environment is teaming with desert life. From lizard and toads and from birds to insects, despite the low vegetation and low water availability they thrive. From the hottest and most parched areas in lower Colorado, where there is little to no rainfall, and the more moisture rich environments found in Baja, California (Plagens 1).
There are more than 900 different tarantula species in the world and they can be found throughout the Northern American continent (Casey 1). Like all spiders, as can be seen in the diagram, tarantulas possess the standard characteristics of all arachnids. They have 8 legs, a prominent, round abdomen, a mid-section, called the cephalathorax. At the head are the eyes and the “pedipalp,” which the short leg-like extensions that protrude and help the spider snatch-up its food. Finally, they have a large set of sharp fangs that are necessary in their ability to kill and manipulate their food (Terminel, Ferguson, &Tubac 1). However, tarantulas do differ from other arachnids in a few ways. Unlike most spiders tarantulas seldom spin webs and climb up high. Most tarantulas do not possess and exoskeleton, the hard, armored exterior, which other species possess. A fall from a great height would be damaging to the tarantula. They have a heavy fur layer. Some of these hairs are for defense. Called “urticating hairs,” they can release these hairs when threatened. When they come in contact with a predators eyes and skin it creates and itching irritant (Arizona Sonora Desert Museum 1 ).
DISCUSSION
The Arizona Blonde Tarantula is one of the most common spider and most common tarantula species found in the Sonora Desert. They, like many tarantulas, prefer to burrow underground and wait for prey to walk by, as opposed to hunting or weaving a web to snag prey. They range in size from 3 to 4 inches. The females are larger and stockier than the male. As can be seen left, the female has the blonde hair cover, while the male, seen right has black and reddish coloring. The males live far shorter lives than their female counterparts. Males Arizona Blond Tarantulas spend all of the time searching for food and a mate (Arizona Sonora Desert Museum 1). Once he finds her he has to avoid being killed and eaten after they have mated. Most male’s spiders only live a few months after reaching adulthood and mating, if he is fortunate. However, female blond tarantulas do very little traveling, often never leaving a few foot radius from her burrow, can live as much as 25 years (Plagens 1).
Arizona Blond Tarantulas are nocturnal hunters, meaning they seek out food primarily at night. Their diet is largely made of up of smaller insects, like roaches and grasshoppers, however they will strike at anything that is the right size to make a meal, even small lizards and other spiders. Because the blond Tarantula, as with all species, they do not have teeth and cannot chew a meal. They inject corrosive venom to reduce the meals insides to a liquid, which they can then “suck-up.” (Arizona Sonora Desert Museum 1). In fairness however, it is necessary to mention that the Blond Tarantula, like many tarantulas, possess weak venom compared to smaller more aggressive counterparts, like the Brown Recluse or the Black Widow. All the same, due to their size and intimidating nature they have often been used to portray dangerous, venomous spiders in films and television. However despite the reputation they have earned and the fear that they inspire is misplaced and over exaggerated. The Arizona Blond Tarantula is, in fact, quite docile. It seldom bites a human and there have never been any reports of this spider or any tarantulas having actually caused the death of a human being (Casey 1).
This particular species of tarantula are becoming more and more popular in the exotic insect trade because they are so docile and nonaggressive. Many people are making pets of them (Casey 1). For this reason this common species has little worry of becoming an endangered and extinct species. At least not at this time. However, these spiders are not the apex predators in their environments, there are many other species that also prey on them. Larger lizards and snakes, coyotes, foxes are all potential predators. There are also a number of spider-eating birds that will not hesitate to eat a tarantula. However, the Blond Tarantula has one other desert enemy that poses one of its greatest threats. The Spider-Hawk or the Tarantula-Hawk, seen left, is a large species of wasp that is well-equipped to match the tarantula’s defenses, making them a regular threat to the species (Arizona Sonora Desert Museum 1).
Again, while the Arizona Blond Tarantula is not presently endangered, the same cannot be said for its desert home. We see many negative effects of urbanization and industrialization of many desert environments are beginning to show the effects. However, it is mass climate change that poses the greatest threat to the Sonora Desert and all to the plants, animals, insects, and arachnids that call the environment home. The rising temperatures are limiting the abundance of the plant life and potential foliage that are genuinely needed in this environment (Gordon & Munson 1). As a society, human beings, have to accept that our impact is not always beneficial to the rest of the world around and be willing to compromise and make change.
CONCLUSION
While the Arizona blond Tarantula will likely remain a scary “creepy crawler,” regardless of its generally harmless demeanor. However, whether one is fan of insects or spiders, they are a part of this world; they serve a purpose, and are essential to the balance of the ecosystems that they share. All ecosystems work from a balance of all things playing a part. Damage a single part, then you can throw-off the rhythm and the rhyme of nature. The Sonora Desert is an immense and beautiful place, but it will not stay that way unless we work to protect those environments. For the good of the Arizona Blond Tarantula and for all of the living things that rely on those lands as their livelihood, changes must be made.
WORK CITED
Casey, Constance. "Hairy Cannibals: The Tarantula, Reappraised." Slate Magazine 1 Jan. 2012:
1-2. Print.
Gordon, Leslie, and Seth Munson. "Hotter and Drier Climate Likely to Alter Abundance of
Sonoran Desert Plants." United States Department of the Interior: Geological Survey 1 Feb. 2014: 1. Print.
Plagens, Michael J. "Sonoran Desert Naturalist."Arizonensis 18 July 2013: 1. Print.
Terminel, Elizabeth, Kylie Ferguson, and VelantinaTubac. "Toxic Species of the
Sonora Desert: Perception vs. Reality." Sonoran Desert Discovery 1 Jan. 2010: 1-16. Print
Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. "Animal Fact Sheet: Tarantula." Arizona Sonora Desert
Museum. 1 Jan. 2014. Web. 17 Oct. 2014. <https://www.desertmuseum.org/kids/oz/long-fact-sheets/tarantula.php>.
