The Texas Brown Tarantula is a nocturnal hunter, scouring for insects like crickets in dry, rocky glades. They often build their homes inside abandoned rodents, reptile tunnels, and other natural cavities lined with silk from the spider’s spinnerets.
These giant arachnids stay away from areas where people congregate but can sometimes be seen crossing roads—especially during late summer and fall—in southern Missouri.
Texas Brown Tarantula: Description.
The Texas brown tarantula (Aphonopelma hentzi) is a powerfully built and densely furred species, proudly serving as Missouri’s largest spider. Its body and legs showcase an even distribution of dark chocolatey-brown coloration with reddish hairs along the carapace. Out of all North American spiders, this arachnid stands alone in its native presence to Missouri; it has also earned the moniker “Missouri Tarantula” or “Oklahoma Tarantula.”
The Texas brown tarantula’s length (not including legs) averages 2 inches for females and 1½ inches for males.
Texas Brown Tarantula: Reproduction.
Females build their egg cases with silky webs connected to the inner walls of their caves and stay by them until they hatch. Usually, the newborns remain with their mothers for around a week before spreading out.
Despite most Missouri spiders being short-lived creatures, tarantulas have been known to live longer than 30 years – particularly females! Males can survive as long as seven or more years but usually die in an unmanaged environment within one year.
Further recommended reading about spiders.
Spider pages: Learn how to identify and avoid these spiders.
Black Spiders: How to identify them.
Long-Palped ant-mimic sac spider.
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Red house spider identification.
Orb weaver Spiders: How to identify and get rid of them.
Common house spiders: How to Identify and get rid of them.
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