NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – It’s prime time right now for one of New Mexico’s big creepy crawly insects, and experts say there’s a stronger chance you might see a tarantula this year. Tarantulas are in the middle of mating season right now, and experts said the wet summer in some parts of New Mexico is bringing more out.
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New Mexico State University’s bug experts said it’s been a banner year for the conditions tarantulas thrive in, with twice the amount of moisture this year compared to last. “They indirectly like moisture because plants are growing, so that means more insects and more food for them,” Director of NMSU Arthropod Collection Scott Bundy said. “And then also softer ground makes it easier for them to dig in the burrows.”
Now heading into August, New Mexicans are far more likely to see males traveling around the state to find females to mate with, something that should last into mid-fall. “You can see multiples at the same time, so that’s why there’s the tendency to call it a migration because it seems like they’re lining up to go to the same place,” Bundy said.
Tarantulas pose no threat to humans, so if you see one, experts say you should leave it alone. “They don’t have venom that can hurt you,” Bundy said. “They have big fangs, so if they bite you, it would hurt. But it’s not life-threatening. They do have hairs that, if you bother them, they’ll release some hairs that are spiny like cactus spines, so they can irritate your skin.”
They eat insects and generally stay away from houses. But you might see their burrows in your yards, especially around evening hours.
Female tarantulas live 20-30 years, while the migrating males only live to be about two. They can grow to about five to six inches. “You can see them in metro areas,” Bundy said. “But most commonly they’ll be out on old highways or out on trails.”
NMSU said last year they got reports of large numbers of tarantulas in Santa Fe and southern New Mexico.
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