Tarantula Wild Catching Adventure

[robd]

Like most of us in the tarantula hobby, after the initial shock of a spider or insect catching me off guard, in real life, I quickly start to ponder the possibilities of capturing it and how to do it.

It is no secret that some of the most intriguing and elusive spiders are found in many different places around the world.

Is there anyone who has gone on a journey to another country, be it a Caribbean island or somewhere in South America and gone out in the wild and had the opportunity to lure a tarantula out of it's burrow and capture it?

I am very intrigued at the possibly of doing this one day. I'd like to, in South America especially. But then, when dealing with a third world country, you have to consider things like safety and what not.

Does anybody have any experience with this sort of thing?

 

[syndicate]

There's quite a few members here who have traveled abroad in search of spiders!Last year I went to Texas and found a bunch of Aphonopelma in the wild.It was a great time

 

[spiderfield]

I traveled to Costa Rica last year, but unfortunately did not get a chance to find any tarantulas. I did, however, encounter an amazing variety of jumping spiders! Different shapes, sizes and colors, especially in the forest canopy. That trip was spent in Playa Hermosa, on the southern Pacific side. Next visit will be to the Monteverde rainforest, where hopefully i'll be able to encounter Megaphobema.

 

[Bill S]

Like most of us in the tarantula hobby, after the initial shock of a spider or insect catching me off guard, in real life, I quickly start to ponder the possibilities of capturing it and how to do it.

You might consider just looking for them, observing them in the wild, and leaving them there. Capturing does not have to be the natural follow-up to being surprised by them.

It is no secret that some of the most intriguing and elusive spiders are found in many different places around the world.

Yes, intriguing and elusive spiders are found in many different places around the world. But you might be surprised at how many intriguing and elusive spiders are found close to your own home if you take the time to learn about them and look for them. For example, my wife has photographed over 100 species from around our area. Some of them are definitely intriguing (spitting spiders, bolas spiders, Homalonychus) and some are definitely elusive (Phidippus tux, previously known from only six specimens, only two of which had been found in the U.S.) and Isaloides (previously unknown from this country).

Is there anyone who has gone on a journey to another country, be it a Caribbean island or somewhere in South America and gone out in the wild and had the opportunity to lure a tarantula out of it's burrow and capture it?

I've gone to other countries (Mexico, Caribbean) and looked for tarantulas, but only looked and didn't capture.

I'd like to, in South America especially. But then, when dealing with a third world country, you have to consider things like safety and what not.

Maybe fewer issues with safety than with legality. Many countries will not allow export of animals without permits. You may find that you need permits to capture in some places.

 

[robd]

You might consider just looking for them, observing them in the wild, and leaving them there. Capturing does not have to be the natural follow-up to being surprised by them.

No, it doesn't have to be. But where's the fun in merely observing something that intriguing part-time, when I can make the tarantula or spider a long term observing project?

But you might be surprised at how many intriguing and elusive spiders are found close to your own home if you take the time to learn about them and look for them.

Thank you very much but I am well aware of this. The main two spiders you may encounter where I live at in Tennessee are the Latrodectus mactans and Hogna carolinesis. I have one of each. Just got the black widow recently, but I've had the wolf spider for awhile now. It's been fun to watch it grow.

Maybe fewer issues with safety than with legality. Many countries will not allow export of animals without permits. You may find that you need permits to capture in some places.

If you've ever been to a third world country, you'd know that stepping outside the beaten path is not always the smartest idea. Especially in South America, it's not just some hollywood attempt at scaring people with the terror of being kidnapped. It's a very real threat. That's why next time I venture out, I may go some where like Puerto Rico, Guam, the US Virgin Islands or American Samoa, that way safety wouldn't be an issue and neither would customs.

To clarify better what I meant in my first post, I would be at the beach 24/7 if I could. I've got the Corona commercial scene on my upper left arm and everything. But, if the next time I'm on a big vacation, if I can find a way to get out of the resort or whatever and do some real exploring, that's what I'm really looking to do.

 

[Bothrops]

You're right, da0867.

I'm from Argentina, and here it's really dangerous. Not only in the cities, but in the field as well, and even more if you are a tourist. There are a lot of thefts and crimes.

Getting back to the topic, I've been in the north of the country, in the field of an acquaintance, and there I had the opportunity of seeing and catching a lot of interesting tarantulas like Acanthoscurria sp. and Vitalius sp.
A great experience, indeed.


Regards,
Bothrops

 

[metallica]

wouldn't it be great if there was a section of the forum dedicated to tarantulas in their own enviroment?

 

[robd]

wouldn't it be great if there was a section of the forum dedicated to tarantulas in their own enviroment?

Oh, whoops. So so sorry to hurt your feelings. I'm sure it annoyed you really bad Mr. Wrong-Section-Post Police.

 

[PrimalTaunt]

wouldn't it be great if there was a section of the forum dedicated to tarantulas in their own enviroment?

It'd be even better if pictures were to be included in that section.

 

[metallica]

nooo, that would be too much!

 

[PrimalTaunt]

I don't know. Pictures would help people live vicariously through others and would maybe even help them see what to look for when searching for tarantulas. Not to mention actually seeing them in their natural environments.

 

[Exo]

I've seen B.smithi in mexico and an unidentified Haplopelma in Borneo, seeing Ts in thier natural habitat is incredible.