Tarantulas webbing while being handled

[suzypike]

Why do you think tarantulas web all over everything when they are being handled? Almost every time I have one out, he/she webs all over me, my clothes, pretty much wherever they walk. Are they doing it on purpose? for a purpose?
I'm just curious to hear people's opinions. I tried doing a search, but all the terms in my question are too common I guess.

 

[RoseT]

Its comforting for them when they are out and about from their natural spot.

 

[killy]

From the first time I let my Chaco sling walk around the palm of my hand, I noticed that he left a trail of silk behind him - my theory - thoroughly untested, unresearched, and unscientific - is that this is a "Hansel-and-Gretel" phenomenon, whereby the tarantula, sensitive to the fact that it is out of its comfort zone, is leaving a "trail of crumbs" that it can trace to get back home.

Please stand by for the avalanche of rebuttals ... :wink::wink:

 

[Rob1985]

They web their surroundings b/c they rely on the sense of feeling as their main sense. They do it so they can find their way back to their "home" & detect prey easier.

 

[mark e sic]

its a tarantula thats why.

 

[suzypike]

That all makes perfect sense...esp. the last one. LOL!

Thanks to everyone who responded. :