Beware of Tarantulas in These 13 States

Tarantulas are large arachnids that terrify some people, while others like to keep them as pets. They are most common in areas such as Mexico, Australia, Southern Asia, and Africa. In the United States, wild tarantulas are only in 13 states in the Southwest. Here, we list which US states have tarantulas.

Florida

Even though they are not actually a native species of the state, Mexican redrump tarantulas are now in parts of Florida. They were first discovered in a citrus grove in 1996. These spiders have been imported into Miami as pets since the 1970s and probably escaped.

Texas

Texas is home to six species of tarantula. These are the Texas Brown Tarantula, Texas Tan Tarantula, Texas Black Spot Tarantula, Chiricahua Gray Tarantula, Rio Grande Gold Tarantula, and the rather mysterious Aphonopelma moellendorfi about which little is known.

Louisiana

Strangely, the Texas brown tarantula (Aphonopelma hentzi) is in Louisiana! It is a rich brown color with a lighter brown cephalothorax. Their range extends from central to north-central Louisiana and westward to Texas, where they burrow under rocks and logs.

Arkansas

Tarantulas are the largest spiders in Arkansas but arrived only 8,000 years ago.  They range from the Ozark Mountains southward across the Arkansas River Valley and the Ouachita Mountains.

Missouri

There is only one native species of tarantula in Missouri and that is the Texas brown tarantula. It also happens to be Missouri’s largest spider.

Kansas

Tarantulas are the largest native spiders in Kansas. They live in southern and western parts of the state but have possibly are around Eudora and in Lecompton as well.

Oklahoma

The Oklahoma brown tarantula is exactly the same species as the Texas brown tarantula. They shelter near small rocks and logs that they can burrow underneath but can occasionally be spotted on roadways.

Arizona

The western desert tarantula (Aphonopelma chalcodes) is so common in Arizona that you may see it called the Arizona blonde. However, there are plenty of other species in the state where they are a common sight.

New Mexico

Desert tarantulas, or desert blonde tarantulas, are a common sight in Northern New Mexico. They are often on Santa Fe Desert County Road 42, and you can even join a tarantula-spotting tour in Cerrillos Hills State Park.

Colorado

There are four types of tarantula in Colorado. Males take part in a migration or ‘walkabout’ every fall as they hunt for females. This has become a tourist attraction in La Junta.

Utah

The genus of tarantula found in Utah (Aphonopelma) is not harmful to humans. At times, they are as far north as Cache County, but that is about the northern limit of their range.

Nevada

The desert tarantula and its cousin, the western desert tarantula, can be found in Nevada. During their annual migration, tarantulas often outnumber the 100 residents of Gabbs, Nevada!

California

The California tarantula is Aphonopelma californicum. However, there are other species in the state, including the California Black (or “Ebony”) Tarantula (Aphonopelma eutylenum).

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Stephen Couch