OBSERVATIONS ON THE HABITS OF A TARANTULA 1 
IN CAPTIVITY 
ALBERT HARTZELL 
On July 17, 1920, Mr. Robert Clark of Gilbert, Iowa, presented 
the writer with a live female tarantula which he found in a 
bunch of bananas in his grocery store. He believed that the 
specimen must have been in hiding for several weeks prior to 
its capture as it was not observed until the last bananas were 
removed. A battery jar, with sand in the bottom, in the writer’s 
home, served as a cage for the fifteen months the creature re- 
mained in captivity. 
As the tarantula refused to feed on dead insects the task of 
finding suitable live food became quite a problem during certain 
seasons when insects were scarce. Flies and grasshoppers were 
first introduced and disappeared in a short time owing to the 
starved condition of the predator. Usually the tarantula would 
wait until the attendant had left the vicinity of the cage before 
pouncing upon its victim but when driven by hunger it would 
boldly seize it. In one instance a large Schistocerca grasshopper 
was eaten completely within four minutes after it was introduced. 
The tarantula inserted its chelicera between the thorax and ab- 
domen while the legs were used to prevent the grasshopper from 
getting away. At another time a luna moth was introduced and 
eaten in a few minutes. Earthworms proved so distasteful to 
the individual that it forced the cover from the top of its cage 
and made its escape. After a diligent search the creature was 
found crawling between the writing desk and the wall and with 
very little coaxing was induced ;to return to its cage. 
In this connection the writer wishes to state that the tarantula 
never attempted to jump at or bite its attendants. Care was 
taken in handling so as to move deliberately, as nervous, hesi- 
tating motions caused it to become excited and irritable. No one 
was permitted to tease or annoy it. 
Beginning with the first week, of August, 1920, a careful study 
of its feeding habits was made. The notes were taken daily but 
are presented here in tabular form by weeks. Only insects ac- 
l Species not determined; 
