The bite of a South Russian tarantula: dangerous or not, what to do with a bite. South Russian tarantula or mizgir Habitat of the South Russian tarantula

Having met a huge spider in nature, we are most often frightened and worried about the consequences of its bite. One of these inhabitants of forests, fields and even household plots is the South Russian tarantula. Why is it dangerous for humans and what preventive measures should be taken when going to the usual habitats of a spider?

South Russian tarantula

South Russian tarantula(Lycosa singoriensis) is best known to residents of the southern regions of Russia and Central Asia. There is a spider on the territory of Ukraine and Belarus. The recognition of the arachnid was brought by its outstanding appearance. This:

impressive size (from 2 to 3.5 cm)
eight eyes on the head (2 large and 6 small)
light stripe across the back
contrasting patch of black or gray color, which is called a hat

Thanks to its large eyes, the spider sees well in the evening, when it traditionally goes hunting. Small ones help you navigate in pitch darkness. The South Russian tarantula is distinguished by its original behavior, which helped to gain its popularity as a pet. For example, a spider can jump to a height of up to 15 cm, getting food, and the female takes care of her babies, allowing her to ride on her back.

The home for the steppe tarantula is a hole up to half a meter deep, the walls of which are covered with cobwebs. Unlike most other arachnids, tarantulas do not weave hunting nets. He simply waits for a potential prey to be in close proximity and catches prey by grabbing it with his front paws. At this moment, the tarantula sticks chelicerae into the body of the insect and injects a paralyzing poison, after which it proceeds to the meal.

South Russian tarantulas destroy insects, including pests of gardens and orchards. However, there are also some downsides. Spider is poisonous. And despite the fact that the amount of poison obtained by a bite is not critical, it is necessary to protect yourself so as not to cause health problems when traveling out of town or when processing your own personal plot.

Bite danger for humans

The usual menu of the South Russian tarantula includes: caterpillars, ground beetles, beetles, cockroaches, crickets and bears. A spider is not interested in a person as a victim. And he attacks only when he feels the danger to his own life and is forced to defend himself by the only possible method.

bites poisonous spider are not classified as lethal. The concentration of poison is not sufficient to cause serious harm to an adult. At the site of a tarantula bite, which feels like contact with a hornet:

there is redness, swelling, there is a feeling of severe burning;
2 punctures are clearly visible through which the spider injected poison;
the pain lasts from several hours to a day, sometimes accompanied by fever;
the skin at the site of the bite acquires a yellow tint, which disappears in a maximum of 2 months.

Allergic people tolerate bites quite hard, up to anaphylactic shock. Among the signs that indicate an allergy to spider venom and require immediate medical attention:

the appearance of a rash and blisters around the bite;
dizziness;
drowsiness;
weakness;
rise in temperature to critical levels;
increased heart rate;
nausea, vomiting;
limb numbness.

In cases of deterioration in health, you should not hesitate to visit a doctor. If a tarantula has bitten a child, seeking medical help is mandatory.

What to do in case of a bite

If a tarantula does bite a person, it is important to quickly take measures that will prevent infection of the wound and allow skin recover as soon as possible. Realizing that a bite has occurred, you should:

Treat the bite site with any antiseptic (preferably after washing with soap and water). For these purposes, you can use hydrogen peroxide, alcohol and even vodka.
Apply a cold compress to relieve pain.
Take an antihistamine to help prevent complications from the allergic reaction caused by the bite.
An anti-inflammatory ointment or an antibiotic, such as Levomekol or Levomycetin, can be applied to the skin.
A person should drink plenty of fluids. This will activate the removal of poison from the body.
It is important to hold the bitten limb at first, lifting it up.

The blood of a tarantula contains a substance that neutralizes the poison. It is enough to crush the arachnid and lubricate the bite site with its blood. The Italians, who gave the tarantula a sonorous name, in the past fought spider bites with active dances. In active movements, there is a meaning, which consists in activating the movement of blood and saturating it with oxygen. It is not known whether this method helped with poison, but it was this original method that gave the world the popular tarantella dance.

In Central Asia, the consequences of a bite of any poisonous spider are fought in a simple improvised way. It is enough to burn the area with a match. This method, based on high temperature, quickly destroys the poison and eliminates the unpleasant consequences of a meeting with a tarantula.

Prevention

Without a threat to their own lives, the South Russian tarantula never attacks a person. The spider bites only if it feels a danger to itself and is simply forced to defend itself. It is important to take available preventive measures that will help avoid close contact with a poisonous arachnid:

You can not make sudden movements, for example, trying to kill a tarantula with a stick. The spider is distinguished not only by its reaction speed, but also by its jumping ability. Frightened, he can attack a person.
If the encounter with the spider took place on personal plot, it should be taken away from housing or destroyed with drugs to eliminate harmful insects.
Going to nature, you need to take antihistamines and wound disinfectants with you. This will help to cope with the bites of not only spiders, but also other insects.
In the forest, before setting up a tent or having a picnic, you should inspect the territory and, if you find tarantulas, move to another place.
In places where poisonous insects live, you can not walk barefoot, sleep on bare ground during the night.
All things after a trip to nature must be thoroughly shaken out. This will protect not only from tarantulas, but also from ticks.

The South Russian tarantula is an excellent fighter against harmful insects. It is important to respect its beneficial qualities and not destroy it unnecessarily. Taking simple preventive measures and knowing how to behave when in contact with a spider, you can not be afraid of bites and safely relax in nature.

South Russian tarantula (lat. Lycosa singoriensis) is a representative of the wolf spider family, the size of which can reach 5 cm (females 2.5 cm). It occurs in deserts, semi-deserts, steppes and forest-steppes. Most often it catches the eye of the inhabitants of Central Asia, the southern part of Russia and Ukraine.

Meeting with the South Russian tarantula is not a very pleasant event. Not only does the appearance of a spider often inspire horror, but it can also bite. No, he will not attack first, but if he is disturbed or hurt, he can easily take revenge. In special cases, the tarantula even jumps to a height of 10-15 cm to get the offender.

The bite of a tarantula is not fatal, but unpleasant. Children have the hardest time - the bite site swells, hurts and itches. Moreover, the discomfort does not go away in one day. Therefore, it is worth keeping a distance from him.

It is easy to recognize the South Russian tarantula: the upper part of its body is brown-red, the lower part is almost black. The cephalothorax, tarsi, and abdomen are densely covered with short hairs. The head has eight eyes arranged in three rows. The two main eyes are dark, the rest are shiny.

IN wild nature Tarantulas live in vertical burrows, from which they emerge only at night, and even then not for long. The entrance hole is braided with cobwebs, the depth of the tunnel is usually 30-40 cm, but for the winter the spiders lengthen their dwelling and close the entrance.

The tarantula itself stays close to the surface, waiting for a suitable prey. When an insect lands near it, the spider quickly jumps out and attacks it. South Russian tarantulas feed on orthoptera and various beetles.

You can lure the spider out with a plasticine ball or a button tied to a thread. By swinging such a weight near the entrance to the hole, you can force its owner to get out. Otherwise, it is simply dug out of the ground. For what? It turns out that the South Russian tarantula is one of the most popular inhabitants of terrariums among local exotic lovers. He is unpretentious and quite calm - what you need for home maintenance.

Females of the South Russian tarantula are caring mothers. Mating usually takes place in late summer. As a rule, males die shortly after it, but females hibernate either indoors (then they are active throughout the cold period) or in a closed hole. With the onset of heat, they begin to warm their abdomens, exposing them to the sun's rays.

At the end of spring, the female weaves a cocoon and immediately lays her eggs in it. She then wears it on herself until the spiderlings begin to hatch. As soon as the female feels movement, she immediately drops the cocoon to the ground and gnaws it. Babies - exact copy their mother, however, their body length does not exceed 1.5 mm.

The mother allows them to climb on top of herself and "rolls" the babies until they begin to feed on their own. Sometimes she has so many children that only her eyes are free from the whole body of the female. Shortly after the spiderlings spread around the area, the female dies.

In the process of growth, spiders molt several times. However, they do not reduce their activity at all and eat as usual. South Russian tarantula does not count a rare species. Moreover, global warming allowed him to expand his range, settling further north. So very soon, residents of the northern regions are at risk of getting to know him.

Is on the planet amazing creatures that are both intimidating and delightful at the same time. The tarantula, fearsome for centuries, is one such creature. The spider, whose dimensions sometimes exceed 3 cm, is mentioned in fairy tales, epics, he was even awarded a special nickname - the people call him mizgir, attributing both sharply negative and positive features.

This is interesting! They say that the South Russian tarantula can chase its prey for hours if it does not die immediately. Usually this happens if the tarantula has bitten a large "game". It periodically bites prey and injects venom until it drops dead.

Helping to get rid of blood-sucking insects - flies, mosquitoes and others, the tarantula is able to bite a victim that is much larger in size, not only a mouse or a frog, but even a person. kill healthy person a tarantula bite may not, but pain, swelling, inflammation are guaranteed.

Description of the South Russian tarantula

Araneomorphic spiders, which include the South Russian tarantula, are large, poisonous and beautiful. Looking at these creations of nature, it is impossible not to be surprised.

Appearance

Distribution area

South Russian tarantulas live almost everywhere in central Russia. The arid climate of deserts, semi-deserts, steppes suits them perfectly, but near the habitats there must be water bodies or ground water close to the surface.

Crimea, Krasnodar region, Orlovskaya, Tambov region, Astrakhan, the Volga region, and even Bashkiria, Siberia, Transbaikalia, tarantulas are considered quite acceptable for life.

Diet, mizgir production

Hairy spiders can go without food for quite a long time.. But then they actively catch up. They are happy to eat flies, mosquitoes, midges, caterpillars, worms, slugs, beetles, ground beetles, fellow spiders, frogs and mice. Spiders attack the victim, being at a distance of a jump from it, they are selected very carefully, silently and imperceptibly.

In search of food, they climb even into residential buildings, country houses.

Reproduction and offspring

At the end of summer, mizgirs mate, males lure the female with special movements. The answer is the same movements of the partner, if she is ready for mating games. They often end tragically, excited females simply kill mizgirs if they do not have time to escape.

The female makes a cocoon from the web, in which, with the onset of spring heat, she lays fertilized and mature eggs. In the warmth of human habitation, the female tarantula may not hibernate. She is able to lay eggs almost immediately, and then carry a cocoon with her attached to her abdomen, waiting until the babies are formed - spiderlings.

Feeling a stir, the female helps the babies to get out. But for some time she carries offspring attached to her abdomen, helping to get food. One pair can have up to fifty cubs. As soon as the babies become able to survive on their own, the mother begins to tear them off the abdomen with her paws, scattering them away from her own home. Young tarantulas build their own burrows in size, gradually increasing them.

Spider size: females up to 30 mm, males up to 25 mm. The body is densely covered with hairs. Coloration: red-brown above, almost black below.

There is data on rare individuals, much larger than indicated.

The tarantula is a member of the wolf spider family, although they are constantly trying to breed it with tarantula spiders (lat. Theraphosidae). Tarantulas differ from the latter in the direction of movement of the jaws.

Chelicerae (because of the venom ducts on their serrated tips) perform two functions - an oral appendage and an attack/defense weapon.

The most attractive appearance of the tarantula is 3 rows of shiny eyes: the first (bottom) row consists of four tiny “beads”, 2 larger eyes are “mounted” on top of them, and finally, another pair is placed on the sides.

Eight spider "eyes" vigilantly monitor what is happening, distinguishing light and shadow, as well as the silhouettes of familiar insects in the range of up to 30 cm. The spider boasts excellent hearing - it hears human steps for 15 km.

The tarantula grows, depending on the variety, up to 2.5 - 10 cm (with a limb span of 30 centimeters).

The tarantula belongs to the type of arthropods, the class of arachnids, the order of spiders, the family of wolf spiders and the genus of tarantulas proper. Like many arthropods, the body of the tarantula is covered with fine hairs. In general, in the structure of the body of a tarantula, two main parts are distinguished: the cephalothorax and the abdomen.

In the upper part of the tarantula's head there are as many as eight eyes, and 4 of them are located in a straight line, and the rest of the eyes bigger size arranged in a trapezium. Thanks to this arrangement of the eyes, tarantulas have a 360-degree field of view. Also besides excellent developed vision these spiders also have an excellent sense of smell, with which they can smell potential prey at a considerable (as for these insects) distance.

The size of the tarantula varies from 2.5 to 10 cm. The span of the paws of this spider can reach 30 cm. Like many insects in the world, female tarantulas are usually many times larger than males.

Throughout their lives, tarantulas change the peculiar chitinous “armor” that covers their body several times. Also, the tarantula has four pairs of long hairy legs, allowing the spider to move comfortably on a loose or even water surface.

The mandibles of the tarantula are covered with poisonous channels, they are very strong and serve the spider as a means of defense and attack.

The color of the tarantula is usually brown, gray or black. Although sometimes there are representatives of these spiders, which have lighter colors.

Belongs to the family of wolf spiders (Lycosidae). Place in the classification (Wikipedia):

Class: Arachnida (Arachnida)
Order: Spiders (Aranei)
Suborder: Araneomorphic spiders (Araneomorphae)
Family: Wolf spiders (Lycosidae)
Genus: Tarantulas (Lycosa)
View: South Russian tarantula(Lycosa singoriensis)

Spider, 25-30 mm in size. Females are larger than males. Covered with dense hairs. The coloration is brown-red above, dark, almost black below.

The eyes are located on the "crown" of the cephalothorax in three rows. The lower one has four small eyes, the second one has two large eyes directed forward, the third one has two large eyes on the sides. In sum, this optical system gives the tarantula a very good review maybe even all 360 degrees.

Vision is very well developed, because. it is one of the main hunting tools of the spider.

Smell, touch, hearing and taste are provided by sensitive hairs on the legs of the spider.

And these sense organs make a tarantula terrible predator which I found out during my observation.

The life expectancy of the female of the South Russian tarantula is more than two years, the male is somewhat less.

Wikipedia tells us that the spider is common in Central Asia, Siberia and Ukraine, and is also found in Belarus. That is, we, in Tambov, in theory, cannot have it. But our spider obviously didn't read Wikipedia. It could be assumed that the tarantula was a runaway from the terrarium, but several other people told me about encounters with tarantulas, so this is not an isolated phenomenon. In addition, few people keep tarantulas in captivity, because. there are more interesting and less biting types of exotic spiders.

Gentlemen alarmists, take note. Tarantulas come to our area along with praying mantises, argiopes and encephalitic mites.

The spider was brought from the village and planted in a small (35*20*25 cm) aquarium. At the bottom, I poured earth with a layer of 3-5 cm and put the lid on the jar as a pool.

According to the recommendations on the Internet, the tarantula should be poured more land so that he can dig holes, but for now I limited myself to such a layer, because an aquarium half-filled with earth will be too heavy, but in this case it is important.

At first, the tarantula sat motionless, and with all its appearance made it clear that nothing in this world could excite him. Even three grain beetles released into the aquarium made no impression on him ... as long as the light was on.

Without waiting for anything interesting, I went to bed. A few minutes later there were sounds of some kind of fuss and even blows to the glass. I jumped up, shone a flashlight ... The spider was sitting in the same place, however, in its chelicerae, now the ground beetle was helplessly moving its legs.

By morning, the position of the spider had not changed, but part of the soil in the aquarium was now entwined with a layer of cobwebs, and only sucked-out shells remained from two more ground beetles.

But the tarantula's hunting for flying food is especially impressive. Actually, I think that in the content of such a spider, it is feeding that is the most interesting and exciting spectacle. The agility with which the tarantula grabs its prey never ceases to amaze me.

Araneomorphic spiders, which include the South Russian tarantula, are large, poisonous and beautiful. Looking at these creations of nature, it is impossible not to be surprised. The body of a wolf spider consists of two parts: a large abdomen and a smaller cephalothorax. There are eight attentive eyes on the cephalothorax.

The body is covered with fine black-brown hairs. The intensity of color depends on the habitat of the tarantula, it can be very light or almost black. But the South Russian mizgir always has a "brand name" - a black spot, which is very similar to a skullcap.

The tarantula has four pairs of legs covered with fine hairs. These bristles increase the area of support when moving, they also help to hear the approach of prey.

The powerful mandibles with which the spiders bite the victim have venom ducts; they are a means of both attack and defense. In length, males reach 27 mm, females - 30-32. At the same time, the record weight of a female mizgir is up to 90 grams. On the abdomen are arachnoid warts with a thick liquid, which, solidifying in the air, turns into a strong network - a cobweb.

The ability to control oneself, attentiveness, caution are required from those who decide to have a mizgir as a pet. These spiders are very interesting to watch, they are funny, smart, so there are a lot of people who are passionate about them. A terrarium or an aquarium with a lid can become a home for a mizgir. Ventilation is required.

The bottom of the arachnarium is covered with soil: sand, turf, coconut fiber, vermiculite or peat. The height of the layer must be at least 30 cm so that the mizgir can make a full-fledged hole.

The pet will love to sunbathe on a snag under a lamp, a small number of plants and constant moistening of the substrate are also useful. In the installed drinking bowl, he can bathe. Feeding is not difficult - flies, ground beetles, crickets, cockroaches, mosquitoes, etc. are sold in pet stores, but you can catch them yourself.

Cleaning is carried out 1 time in 2 months, luring with food or a small ball on a string and transplanting the spider into another container. In winter, the spider may hibernate, sealing the entrance to the hole, or simply become less active if the temperature has not changed and is kept at 20-30 degrees. Tarantulas are considered one of the most interesting objects to observe, but children should not have them.

Range, habitats

Prefers a dry climate, and therefore lives in desert, semi-desert, steppe, sometimes forest-steppe zones. It is found in fields, gardens, orchards, on the banks of rivers and other places with soft soil. Distributed in Central Asia, also lives in Russia (Siberia) and Ukraine. Since 2008, it has been found in Belarus, in the floodplains of the Pripyat, Sozh, and Dnieper rivers.

It was also seen in large numbers in the Saratov and Astrakhan regions, especially off the Volga coast, as well as in the Belgorod, Tambov, Kursk, Oryol, Tula and Lipetsk regions, the Republic of Bashkortostan and the West Kazakhstan region (Kazakhstan), the Stavropol Territory, the Trans-Baikal Territory (Aginsky Buryat district).

The South Russian tarantula is the most impressive spider that lives on the vast territory of the former Soviet Union. Lycosa singoriensis lives in the Caucasus, Central Asia, Ukraine and Belarus (where in 2008 it was seen in the floodplains of the Sozh, Dnieper and Pripyat rivers).

In our country, it is distributed almost everywhere: residents of the Tambov, Oryol, Nizhny Novgorod, Saratov, Belgorod, Kursk and Lipetsk regions find it on their beds.

In large quantities, the spider is found in the Astrakhan and Volgograd regions (especially near the Volga), as well as in the Stavropol Territory. The tarantula has long been "registered" in the Crimea, after which he managed to crawl to Bashkiria, Siberia and even to the Trans-Baikal Territory.

The South Russian tarantula loves an arid climate, often settling in the steppe, semi-desert and desert zones (with access to natural water bodies). The villagers meet the spider in the fields garden plots, vegetable gardens (during the potato harvest) and on hillsides.

The habitat of this arachnid creature is quite extensive and occupies the lion's share of Central and Asia Minor, the southern regions Russian Federation, the entire territory of Ukraine and the southern tip of Belarus, where this subspecies was first discovered in 2008. Due to the fact that the South Russian tarantula loves drought and heat, he chooses places to live based on his preferences.

It is characterized by steppe, semi-desert and desert climate. It can be found in the fields, on the hills, summer cottages and rural areas. Especially often they come across its holes in the process of harvesting potatoes, because the depth of the minks is from 30 to 40 centimeters, which is approximately equal to the planting depth of this tuberous plant.

hunting and burrow

By tying a plasticine ball or button to a thread, and shaking it in front of the mink, you can lure the tarantula out. At night, the spider becomes more active and leaves the shelter for a short distance and hunts for insects. The prey of a tarantula is any insect that comes into view or comes within throw distance (an example of cannibalism from other, smaller species of spiders is not uncommon). Some specimens can climb into residential buildings, especially in small ones. settlements.

It digs vertical burrows up to 30-40 cm deep, lined with cobwebs; when an insect appears near the hole, it quickly jumps out of the hole and catches it. The spider also catches and kills insects that can accidentally climb into its hole. As a rule, the tarantula's signal to attack is the shadow of an insect running along the entrance to the hole, and the spider is also sensitive to what is happening near the surface, including the movement of running insects, which also serves as a reason for the attack.

By tying a plasticine ball or button to a thread, and shaking it in front of the mink, you can lure the tarantula out. At night, the spider becomes more active and leaves the shelter for a short distance and hunts for insects. The prey of a tarantula is any insect that comes into view or comes within throw distance (an example of predation against other, smaller species of spiders is not uncommon). Some specimens can climb into residential buildings, especially in small settlements.

The steppe tarantula settles in burrows, which he himself digs, and at the same time he always lines the walls with his own cobwebs. The depth of the hole is usually 30-40 m. For hunting, he does not weave trapping nets, but catches prey at the moment when it runs past his nest.

reproduction

Further, she forms a cocoon from a web with laid eggs, which she attaches to her body, with this the spider walks until the tarantulas begin to move inside the cocoon. She then gnaws through the cocoon and helps them crawl out. Immediately after birth, the cubs climb onto their mother and settle down there in several layers.

For the winter, the spider deepens the hole and clogs the entrance with earth. It can lead an active lifestyle in winter if it enters a heated room near human habitation. The fertilized female hibernates in her burrow for the winter until spring. In spring, she crawls to the surface and exposes her abdomen to the sun.

This contributes to the formation of eggs in the body of the tarantula. When the eggs mature, the female spins a web, where she lays her eggs. The woven cocoon never leaves the attention of the female and is attached for convenience spider glands to the abdomen. With a clear threat to the cocoon, the female violently clings to it with chelicerae and it is no longer possible to select the cocoon.

Spider life span natural environment 2 years. In captivity, the spider lives a little over a year (in the absence of seasonal "winter" hibernation, which inhibits the development of the spider).

South Russian tarantulas mate at the end of summer, after which the partners usually die, and the partners prepare for wintering. With the first cold weather, the spider seals the entrance with earth and crawls to the bottom, away from the frost.

In spring, the female comes to the surface to keep warm under sunbeams, and returns to the burrow to lay eggs. She carries the cocoon, in which the eggs are braided, with her, showing tireless concern for its safety.

Getting out of the cocoon, the spiderlings cling to the mother (her abdomen and cephalothorax), which continues to protect the offspring for some more time, keeping it with her.

Having gained independence, spiders leave their mother. It often speeds up their exit to great life, for which it circles around the hole, throwing the babies off the body with its hind legs.

So tarantulas continue their race. Young spiders find a new place to live and begin to dig holes, the depth of which will increase as the tarantula grows.

Mating takes place at the end of summer. Having found a female, the male begins to vibrate his abdomen and actively move his front paws. These actions allow the female to correctly identify the species of the male. If the female is ready to mate, she begins to repeat his movements. After mating, the tarantula must quickly leave, otherwise the excited female may eat her partner.

The mating season for many species of tarantulas takes place at the end of summer. A sexually mature male spins a web, then begins to rub against it with his abdomen. As a result of this, he ejaculates seminal fluid, which falls on the web. Then the male dips his pedipalps into it, which absorb it, and become ready for fertilization.

And only then does the search for a female begin. Having found his “lady”, the male begins courtship, which includes performing a kind of mating dance. If the female responded to the "cavalier" in return, he immerses his pedipalps in her cloaca and fertilizes her. Then it is very desirable for the male to leave his "lady" as soon as possible, so as not to become dinner for her, as happens with praying mantises and some other insects.

The eggs mature in 40-50 days, and small tarantulas hatch from them, which begin to grow rapidly, and by 2-3 years they have already reached sexual maturity.

The mating season falls on the last month of summer, and at this time the males go in search of females. Having met a female, the male must show her his intentions, otherwise he risks being eaten.

The "boyfriend" raises the front of the body, exposes the first pair of legs and vibrates the abdomen. In this position, he slowly approaches the female. Ready for mating, she begins to repeat the movements of the male. Immediately after fertilization, the male quickly retires and prepares for winter: he makes his hole deeper and clogs the entrance with soil.

The fertilized female also goes to her burrow for the winter. With the advent of spring, she appears on the surface and exposes her abdomen to the sun's rays.

When the maturation of eggs in the abdomen ends, the female spins a silk cocoon from the web. She lays eggs in it and wears it for some time on her abdomen. At the same time, the cocoon with future offspring is always in her field of vision, and the female actively protects it in any situation. If she feels danger, then she will immediately violently cling to the cocoon with chelicerae and it will no longer be possible to select it.

As soon as the female feels that the spiderlings are starting to come out of the eggs, she breaks the cocoon and helps the babies get out. Young individuals climb onto the body of the mother, and for some time she wears them on herself. Gradually, the stronger offspring leave the mother's body, settling around. In the natural habitat, the South Russian tarantula lives for about two years, in captivity a little longer, which is due to the absence of winter suspended animation, which to a certain extent slows down its development.

Lifestyle of a tarantula

The South Russian tarantula is a hunter sitting in ambush, which becomes a hole dug 50-60 cm deep. The spider learns about what is happening above by the fluctuations of the web: with it he prudently braids the walls of his shelter.

The shadow of the insect, blocking the light, also becomes a signal to jump. The tarantula is not a supporter of walks and makes them out of necessity, leaving the hole in search of prey at dusk. On night hunting, he is extremely cautious and does not go far from his mink.

Approaches the victim slowly, with stops. Then suddenly jumps and bites. In anticipation of the killer action of the toxin, it can relentlessly follow the insect, biting it and bouncing off until the sufferer draws his last breath.

The objects of attack of our tarantula are:

caterpillars;
crickets and beetles;
cockroaches;
bears;
ground beetles;
spiders of other species;
flies and other insects;
small frogs.

Male tarantulas fight with each other, regardless of the seasons, and rest from civil strife only during hibernation.

Tarantulas lead a solitary night image life, go with members of the opposite sex exclusively during the breeding season. All male tarantulas, without exception, are at enmity with each other.

During the day, these spiders hide in deep, vertical burrows, but at night they come out to hunt.

The South Russian tarantula lives in burrows up to 40 cm deep. The walls of the burrow are woven with cobwebs, by the vibration of which the spider feels what is happening on the surface. It also reacts to the shadow of an insect blocking the entrance to the hole. In this regard, there is a well-known method of luring a tarantula out of a hole using a plasticine ball on a thread.

Tarantulas are typical loners and tolerate a number of relatives only in mating season. Males are quite tolerant of females, and they constantly quarrel with each other.

Each individual lives in its own dwelling, a mink up to 50 cm deep. They spend time in it during the day, from it they monitor approaching prey, a web becomes a net for gaping insects, which seals the entrance to the hole. Even when hungry, mizgiri rarely go far from their habitat, in general they prefer to catch food from home.

Tarantulas are clever hunters. Noticing prey or the shadow of an insect by the vibration of the web, they make a powerful jump, grabbing and biting the victim, injecting poison and depriving them of the ability to resist. Mizgiri rarely live longer than 3 years. The age of males is shorter than that of females. In winter, they hibernate, carefully sealing the entrance to the mink with grass and cobwebs. As soon as warm days come, suspended animation stops.

Virulence

The poison of the South Russian tarantula lies in the glands located in the cephalothorax; their ducts open at the top of the claw-like segments of the chelicerae, with which the spiders pierce the cuticle of their prey in order to inject poison and digestive enzymes, and then suck out the internal contents of the victim. Its bite for a person is comparable in pain to a hornet sting and causes only local edema.

What do tarantulas eat

As you probably guessed, tarantulas are notorious predators, their food consists of numerous small insects and amphibians: caterpillars, bears, crickets, beetles, cockroaches, small frogs, etc. Tarantulas guard their prey from a shelter, and then swiftly attack. Having attacked, they paralyze the prey with their poison, which subsequently turns its insides into a nutrient liquid, then the tarantula sucks it out like a “cocktail”.

The process of eating a tarantula can take several days, but in general they are not very voracious and can do without food for a long time, as long as there is access to water.

Types of tarantulas, photos and names

There are about 200 species of tarantulas, but we will describe the most interesting of them.

Apulian tarantula

He is a real tarantula, lives in the south of Europe, including in Italy (most likely it was he who gave the name to the whole species of these spiders) and also in North Africa. It is approximately 7 cm long. Also, unlike other types of tarantula, it does not weave cobwebs.

As the name implies, this tarantula lives in the south of Russia, Belarus, as well as our country of Ukraine, in the countries of Central Asia. This species of tarantula is small, its dimensions rarely exceed 35 mm. characteristic feature This type of tarantula is the presence of a special dark cap. With the onset of cold weather, these tarantulas burrow deep into their minks, where they successfully winter, and with the onset of spring they get to the surface.

spanish tarantula

This tarantula also lives in southern Europe, in particular Spain, Italy, Portugal, and North Africa. It was once considered a subspecies of the Apulian tarantula, but was later identified as a separate species.

brazilian tarantula

This species of dark brown tarantula lives in tropical forests South America, Brazil, Paraguay, is found on the territory of many other South American countries. A characteristic difference This tarantula is the presence on the head of a light longitudinal strip of a yellowish tint.

tarantula bite

The tarantula is quite mild-mannered and does not attack a person without a good reason, including deliberate provocation or accidental contact.

A disturbed spider will announce the beginning of the attack with a threatening posture: it will stand up on its hind legs, raising its front legs up. Seeing this picture, be prepared for an attack and a bite similar to a bee or hornet sting.

The toxin of the South Russian tarantula is not fatal, but a shallow bite is accompanied by sharp pain, swelling, and less often nausea and dizziness.

The bite site is burned with a cigarette or match to decompose the toxin. Do not interfere with the use of antihistamines.

The tarantula itself is unlikely to attack a human. But the actions of the person himself can force him to this, for example, if he accidentally touches a spider, the latter can bite as self-defense.

A tarantula bite is not dangerous for a healthy person, with the exception of children and people with allergic reactions, in such cases it is necessary to seek professional help. medical care.

Symptoms of a tarantula bite and their consequences may look like this:

local pain at the bite site, redness and swelling.
drowsiness, lethargy, general poor health.
a sharp but short-term increase in temperature.
in some cases, there may be nausea and vomiting.

First of all, it is necessary to wash the wound with antibacterial soap and treat it with an antiseptic. Then cool the bite site with an ice pack and take an antihistamine. Drink plenty of fluids, but never alcohol, and of course seek professional medical attention.

The bite of a tarantula is not dangerous for a person, but very unpleasant (in various sources, sensations are compared with the bites of stinging insects, up to a hornet). The tarantula is non-aggressive, as it does not consider human prey until it is provoked. But, of course, no one canceled the opportunity to accidentally step on him, lie down, sit down.

The poison of the South Russian tarantula is dangerous for insects, amphibians, small rodents. toxic substance instantly causes paralysis, disrupting work nervous system. A spider does not rush to a person, but it can bite, feeling a danger to itself.

Mizgir's bite is painful, accompanied by swelling, redness. In children, people prone to allergies, there may be a deterioration in well-being - weakness, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fever. The condition after a spider bite normalizes on its own within 2 days, or antihistamines are required.

Due to the large size, attractive appearance The South Russian tarantula is often kept as a pet. Mizgir - a home spider feels great in artificially created conditions. Does not hibernate, lays eggs almost immediately after fertilization. The duration of the female is up to 3 years.

Wash the bitten area warm water with antibacterial soap or, in its absence, with plain hand soap, being careful not to rub the skin too much.
Treat the wound with an antiseptic.
Apply cold to the affected area. It could be ice, a bottle of cold water etc. Hold the cold for 10 minutes, then take a 10-minute break and repeat the procedure again. Continue these manipulations until the pain subsides.
To eliminate swelling, lift the bitten part of the body and hold it in this position.
Keep calm.
Drink plenty of fluids, this will ensure faster elimination of toxins from the body.
If an allergic reaction occurs, take antihistamines.

If a tarantula has bitten a child or a person with a weakened immune system, disposed to allergic reactions, if the victim's health deteriorates sharply, one should without fail seek medical help.

Tarantulas, including South Russian ones, are often kept at home: they are funny and unpretentious creatures. One has only to remember that these spiders have a good reaction and a painful bite, so when handling them, attention and composure are needed.

Based on observations, the South Russian tarantula, protecting its lair, jumps up 10-15 centimeters. According to the general conditions of keeping tarantulas, they differ little from burrowing varieties of tarantulas.

The immutable rule that the newly minted owner of the tarantula must comply with is that a single spider is housed in one terrarium. Otherwise, the tenants will constantly find out which of them is stronger. Sooner or later, one of the fighters will be carried away from the battlefield lifeless.

It has been noted that in the natural environment the tarantula lives for two years, and in captivity it can live twice as long.

IN Lately some lovers exotic pets get themselves domestic tarantulas. And why not, because in the content they are not quite whimsical, they can live in an aquarium or terrarium. At the bottom of the tank, it is necessary to pour a substrate consisting of a mixture of sand, clay and earth. Also, the terrarium for the tarantula should be equipped with an automatic drinker with fresh water and a shallow pool.

The optimum temperature for keeping these spiders should be 25-27 C. You can feed tarantulas with small pieces of fresh beef, as well as live cockroaches, frogs, if, of course, you manage to catch them. But fortunately, they do not need to be fed often, so for an adult healthy tarantula, it will be normal to eat once a week.

It is also important to remember that only one tarantula can be kept in a terrarium, if there are two of them, then only one, the strongest, will survive as a result of constant skirmishes.

The blood of a tarantula, oddly enough, is the best antidote for its own poison, so to neutralize the action of the toxin, you can lubricate the wound with the blood of a crushed spider.
Tarantulas are able to regenerate lost limbs, so if you tear off a paw, then after some time a new one will grow in its place, although it will be slightly smaller in size.
During the mating season, male tarantulas can travel considerable distances in search of females.

Nutrition

The South Russian tarantula is fed by fodder insects that do not exceed its body in size (excluding limbs).

What to feed

The list of products for home tarantula includes:

cockroaches (Turkmen, marble, Argentinean, Madagascar and others);
zophobas and mealworm larvae;
crickets;
pieces of minced beef (fat-free).

Crickets, as a rule, are bought at a pet store or in a bird market, since, unlike cockroaches, they are difficult to breed at home: starving, crickets easily devour their comrades.

Once a month, multivitamins are mixed into the meat ball, once every two weeks - calcium gluconate. A raw "meatball" is given to the spider directly in the paws.

Under the ban are:

Inappropriate food for a tarantula will be predatory insects, such as centipede, praying mantis or other spiders. In this case, your furry pet may be prey.

Feeding frequency

Newly born spiderlings are fed newborn worms and tiny crickets.

Growing tarantulas feed twice a week, adults - once every 8-10 days. The remains of the feast from the arachnaria are immediately removed.

A well-fed spider stops responding to food, but sometimes it is necessary to stop feeding in the interests of the tarantula itself. A signal of sufficient filling of the abdomen is its increase (1.5-2 times) in relation to the cephalothorax. If feeding is not stopped, the tarantula's abdomen will rupture.

Don't panic if the spider isn't eating. Tarantulas can fast for months without harm to their health.

If the pet did not eat the insect right away, press down on the second one's head and leave it in the terrarium overnight. By morning, the prey remained intact? Just throw out the insect.

After molting, it is better not to feed the spider for several days. The period of abstinence from food is calculated by adding 3-4 days to the number of molts.

Do not leave insects unattended in arachnaria to avoid possible problems: a female cockroach may give birth, and you will look for nimble cockroaches scattered around the apartment.

The signal for attack in this case is the shadow of a potential victim. Having recognized the outlines, the spider jumps out of its ambush with lightning speed, grabs its prey with its front paws, immediately plunges its chelicerae into its body and injects poison. When the victim freezes, the tarantula starts the meal.

The diet of the South Russian tarantula includes:

caterpillars;
crickets;
ground beetles;
bears;
cockroaches;
beetles.

Despite the fact that these arachnids are very attached to their hole, single specimens can move away from it at fairly decent distances. Cases have been noted when South Russian tarantulas climbed into residential buildings located in small settlements.

How to get rid of the site

For people who do not want to share their site with such dangerous and unpleasant-looking creatures, we have selected a few of the most effective methods, which allow you to cope with an uninvited guest.

The mizgir spider or South Russian tarantula in central Russia is ubiquitous. For a solitary lifestyle, the arthropod received another name - the wolf. The predator reaches a size of 32 mm, lives in the wild, and is often kept as a pet. It does not attack a person, but can bite in self-defense.

Appearance description

Spider South Russian tarantula - one of the largest.

The female reaches a size of 32 mm, the males grow up to 27 mm.
The body is divided into 2 parts - a convex abdomen, cephalothorax. The parts are interconnected by a thin jumper.
4 pairs of long limbs help not only to move, but also are the organs of smell, touch. On the lower part of the legs there are hairs with which the wolf spider receives signals from the external environment.

On the head of the South Russian tarantula there are 8 eyes located in different parts- 4 look forward, 2 on the sides, a couple more back. The visual review is 360 degrees. However, the South Russian tarantula sees weakly, receives visual images in the form of shadows, silhouettes. Responds well to movement.

On a note!
The color of the mizgir is different, depending on the habitat - brown, gray, black. Top part abdomen, cephalothorax are always darker, there is a pattern in the form of light spots. A photo of the misgir spider is located below.

Lifestyle

Leads a solitary lifestyle, forms a pair only for the mating period. Dwells in arid places lives in burrows up to 50 cm deep. Most spends time in his home, prefers to hunt "from home". Before entering, monitors her condition. Even when hungry South Russian mizgir does not go far from his own home.

The main diet is small insects, relatives, snails, caterpillars, as well as frogs, mice, snakes. At the sight of a victim, the wolf freezes, waits for the right moment, after which it rushes to attack almost instantly. If the prey is waiting for a predator in the web, he is not in a hurry, approaches with a confident step, bites, injects poison, his own saliva. Under the influence of the secret, the insides of the victim turn into a liquid mass, which the mizgir drinks.

Interesting!
In deep autumn, the wolf hides in a mink, clogs the entrance with grass, moss, cobwebs. Falls into suspended animation, wakes up in the spring, begins to lay eggs. The life expectancy of the female is about 3 years, the males die almost immediately after the end of the mating season.

reproduction

The process starts at the end of summer. The male carefully cares for the female, attracting her attention. After mating, his task is to quickly get out of sight, because hungry aggressive female can eat it.

After hibernation the spider weaves a cocoon from the web, lays several hundred eggs there. It drags along the entire period of development of the larvae, as well as for some time after their birth.

Interesting!
The belly of the misgir is dotted with small spiders, the number of which reaches 50 pieces. The mother feeds the young offspring, as they grow older she throws them off herself away from the mink.

Human danger

The poison of the South Russian tarantula is dangerous for insects, amphibians, small rodents. The toxic substance instantly causes paralysis, disrupting the nervous system. A spider does not rush to a person, but it can bite, feeling a danger to itself.

Mizgir's bite is painful, accompanied by swelling, redness. In children, people prone to allergies, there may be a deterioration in well-being - weakness, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fever. The condition then normalizes on its own within 2 days, or antihistamines are required.

Due to its large size, attractive appearance, the South Russian tarantula is often kept as a pet. Mizgir - a home spider feels great in artificially created conditions. Does not hibernate, lays eggs almost immediately after fertilization. The duration of the female is up to 3 years.

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