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- Dec 8, 2006
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I'm posting this information from a biologist I know who has observed and studied Poecilotheria in their native habitat.
Many of us have rarely seen a tarantula in the wild, let alone a member of this beautiful and likely endangered genus. The few pictures I've seen of this genus in their native habitat do not actually give the accurate story behind what occurs when they are wild caught and shipped off for whatever reason/s.
I thought people should know the history behind WC members of this genus.
Also, notice their prey includes lizards.
"Poecilotheria spp. of all life stages live deep inside natural tree cavities of living trees as they harbor prey items like lizards, beetles and lepidotera larvae. The spiders emerge at sit near the entrance at night. Images you've seen of specimens on trees were made by stealthy approach and using a flash. You can occasionally find Poecilotheria, like other arboreal theraphosids, living on man-made structures (with crevices) near the forests.
Dead trees do not attract a lot of prey items on a long-term basis nor last long as they are the first trees targeted for firewood. The living trees that harbor Poecilotheria are large palm trees with holes made by a type of weevil, or large leafy shade trees, like Banyan, Teak, etc., and generally over one foot in diameter and larger.
https://waglestreetjournal.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/banyan-tree-of-pondicherry-india-6.jpg
When startled, the spider goes deep into the living tree cavity and it has to be chopped out ... needless to say, the tree is either cut down or left with large gaping holes in it that may kill the tree in order to extract the single spider."
Many of us have rarely seen a tarantula in the wild, let alone a member of this beautiful and likely endangered genus. The few pictures I've seen of this genus in their native habitat do not actually give the accurate story behind what occurs when they are wild caught and shipped off for whatever reason/s.
I thought people should know the history behind WC members of this genus.
Also, notice their prey includes lizards.
"Poecilotheria spp. of all life stages live deep inside natural tree cavities of living trees as they harbor prey items like lizards, beetles and lepidotera larvae. The spiders emerge at sit near the entrance at night. Images you've seen of specimens on trees were made by stealthy approach and using a flash. You can occasionally find Poecilotheria, like other arboreal theraphosids, living on man-made structures (with crevices) near the forests.
Dead trees do not attract a lot of prey items on a long-term basis nor last long as they are the first trees targeted for firewood. The living trees that harbor Poecilotheria are large palm trees with holes made by a type of weevil, or large leafy shade trees, like Banyan, Teak, etc., and generally over one foot in diameter and larger.
https://waglestreetjournal.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/banyan-tree-of-pondicherry-india-6.jpg
When startled, the spider goes deep into the living tree cavity and it has to be chopped out ... needless to say, the tree is either cut down or left with large gaping holes in it that may kill the tree in order to extract the single spider."