LA JUNTA, Colo. (AP) — The Colorado plains are alive with a thrilling energy this season, as nature’s annual tarantula mating ritual unfolds. This captivating phenomenon stirs excitement, quickening the heartbeat of those fortunate enough to witness it.
Each year during September and October, male tarantulas emerge from their burrows, driven by the instinct to find a mate. Their quest brings hundreds of spider enthusiasts to the quaint farming community of La Junta, where the sight of these fascinating creatures captivates both locals and visitors alike.
Last weekend, as dusk approached, buses filled with scientists, families, and arachnid aficionados set off to explore the rugged plains. Many came armed with flashlights and car headlights to illuminate the area once darkness fell, eagerly seeking out the wandering tarantulas.
Meanwhile, back in town, festivalgoers showcased their quirky excitement at the hairy leg contest, where a woman took home the title this year. The event featured a parade of vintage cars adorned with giant spider decorations, and attendees enjoyed a screening of the cult classic “Arachnophobia,” a film about a small town dealing with a spider invasion, at the historic Fox Theater.
For residents of La Junta, these tarantulas are not just creepy creatures. They play a crucial role in the region’s ecosystem and draw in visitors from across the United States, fostering connections within the tight-knit community.
One such visitor was Nathan Villareal, a tarantula breeder from Santa Monica, California. Captivated by the mating season’s spectacle, he traveled to see it firsthand. Villareal has been intrigued by tarantulas since childhood and now sells them as pets across the country.
The “Colorado Brown” tarantula is a common sight around La Junta, building its burrows in the untouched expanses of the Comanche National Grassland. Each fall, male tarantulas venture out in search of females, identifiable by the silk webbing they leave at their burrows. The prime time for viewing these impressive spiders is about an hour before dusk, when the temperatures are cooler.
During Villareal’s outing, he and his companions spotted over a dozen tarantulas along the road, excitedly recounting their discoveries. As explained by Cara Shillington, a biology professor at Eastern Michigan University studying arachnids, male tarantulas mature over seven years and spend their brief lifespans—typically just over a year—searching for a mate. Females, on the other hand, can live for 20 years or more.
Once a male finds a female, he uses specialized appendages to drum on her burrow. If she is receptive, she will surface, and the male will attempt to mate swiftly before escaping to avoid being eaten, as females are usually larger and require extra nutrients for gestation.
Shillington, who shares a passion for educating the public on the benefits of tarantulas, emphasizes their docile nature. She notes that while their venom can cause discomfort, it is generally not harmful to humans. “When you encounter them, they’re more afraid of you,” she explained. “Tarantulas bite only out of fear, and avoiding putting them in a situation where they feel threatened eliminates the need for fear.”
Many children at the festival learned that spiders are not as frightening as they appear. Roslyn Gonzales, 13, expressed her eagerness to hunt for spiders when night fell. Graduate student Goran Shikak, covered in spider tattoos, declared the festival a wonderful opportunity to celebrate tarantulas with others who share his enthusiasm. “They’re beautiful creatures,” he remarked, “and witnessing their natural behavior is an incredible experience that can only be truly appreciated in the wild.”
