Theraphosidae 243 



wheat flour. Enough moisture is supplied to the culture by keeping a 

 moist wad of cotton attached to the lid of the container. 



Dermestids, such as D. lardarius, are fed on felt, bones which have a 

 bit of dried substance adhering, and ordinary dog biscuit (which they 

 seem to like). 



In all cases moisture is extremely necessary, but care must be taken 

 so that mold does not set in. 



Order araneae, Family theraphosidae 



LABORATORY CARE OF TARANTULAS 



W. J. Baerg, University of Arkansas 



TARANTULAS hatch late in summer, August or September. During 

 the fall they apparently require no food. In the following spring 

 a large family confined in a battery jar will begin to dwindle. In May 

 and June cannibalism becomes so severe that if several specimens are 

 to be saved for rearing to the adult stage they must be isolated. These 

 young individuals may be kept in any sort of small jar that will confine 

 them and admit some air. Small sized battery jars (4" x 6") do very 

 well. A thin layer of soil (about % inch) is desirable; a deeper layer 

 may crush the delicate spiders when they burrow. 



Young tarantulas will feed on any small insects they can handle. 

 Termites are very satisfactory and will serve till the tarantulas are 

 about 3 years old. 



Older tarantulas are conveniently kept in large battery jars which 

 should be half filled with soil to satisfy their desire for digging. They 

 may be fed grasshoppers, crickets, cockroaches, or a variety of cater- 

 pillars, as well as various moths, butterflies, cicadas, etc. Tent cater- 

 pillars and catalpa worms serve well for early spring and summer, grass- 

 hoppers for late summer and fall. 



Tarantulas of the common local species Eurypelma calijornica will 

 feed once a week or a little oftener; the Mexican species Dugesiella 

 crinita will accept food more often and in larger quantities. Mature, 

 or nearly mature tarantulas will live without food for about 2 years. 



Water should be supplied at frequent intervals. A glass dish, such as 

 a small petri dish, serves well. In seasons of severe drought tarantulas 

 may succumb to thirst in 2 months' time. 



During the winter the tarantulas may doubtless be kept in an ordinary 

 laboratory, but to come nearer to natural conditions a basement, not 

 heated, is better. A light frost will not kill them, but it is well to avoid 

 temperatures below 40 F. This is for the local species E. calijornica. 

 Species native farther south should be kept at higher temperatures. 



