Introducing Tarantulas to Pennsylvania??

[Mattyb]

Would it be possible for any species of tarantula to thrive in PA if introduced?


-Matty

 

[rosehaired1979]

Possibly not esp during the winter since with the weather Pa has.

 

[matty J]

I do believe that even if they could survive the winter, you likely would be breaking the law. I don't believe you can just introduce a species into a new habitat. Hey but I ain't a lawyer.
I do believe that they did release some species into Florida though. I think that it was collectors and not the govn't............ Does anyone know for sure?

 

[Mattyb]

I was just curious, i'm not going to try it.

-Matty

 

[Martin H.]

I do believe that they did release some species into Florida though. I think that it was collectors and not the govn't............ Does anyone know for sure?

• EDWARDS, G. B. & K. L. HIBBARD (1999): The Mexican Redrump, Brachypelma vagans (Araneae: Theraphosidae), an Exotic Tarantula Established in Florida. Entomology Circular No. 394: 1-2.

 

[pitbulllady]

• EDWARDS, G. B. & K. L. HIBBARD (1999): The Mexican Redrump, Brachypelma vagans (Araneae: Theraphosidae), an Exotic Tarantula Established in Florida. Entomology Circular No. 394: 1-2.

I don't think that the case of the B. vagans in Florida can be remotely compared to Pennsylvania. The climate is entirely different; that particular part of Florida is very simily, in terms of soil and climate, to the Yucatan Pennensula of Mexico, where B. vagans is found naturally. Here in SC, on our own property, we had a small population of Avicularia sp. which was around for several decades, but the combination of periods of harsh winters and the increased use of farm pesticides eventually did them in, and we have much milder winters that PA, along with a probably greater insect prey base. It still was not enough to keep them going. One or two big females seemed to have hung on at least up until the early '90's, when the last sighting was made, but there have been none since. The only types of T's that might stand a chance in the Mid-Atlantic would be one of the montaine Andes species, but even then I'd doubt it.

pitbulllady