Chilean Rose-haired Tarantula Releases An Interesting Organic Bug Spray
July 2nd, 2010 Posted in Spiders & Other ArachnidsIf you’ve ever been to Walt Disney World in Florida, and watched the 3D attraction “It’s Tough To Be A Bug” in Animal Kingdom, you probably remember “Chili” the tarantula.
He’s the critter that demonstrates his talent for throwing poison quills with “deadly accuracy.”
What’s interesting about Chili is he’s based on a Chilean Rose-hair Tarantula, a species of spiders that actually does release mists of hair at predators.
Read on to learn more about this amazing creature and how its organic bug spray ability protects itself from unwanted guests.
The Chilean Rose-haired Tarantula
In January (2010) a man was admitted to St. James’s University Hospital in Leeds, England because he had a highly irritated eye, that was watery and light-sensitive. After investigating him under a high magnification lens, ophthalmologists discovered hair-like projections stuck to his cornea.
The patient quickly remembered an incident 3 weeks earlier of being exposed to a “mist of hairs” while he was cleaning a stain on his Chilean Rose-haired tarantula’s tank.
The mist (spray) that was released by the tarantula is actually a defense mechanism called the flicking of urticating hairs. When a Chilean Rose-haired tarantula is agitated or scared, it will shoot quill-like hairs from its back to blind/kill predators.
After they flick urticating hairs, they usually have a dark bald patch on their abdomens.
Make Chili Your Pet
However, don’t let this deter you from purchasing this bug as a pet, because Chilean Rose-haired tarantulas are one of the most docile and hardy spiders that are standards in the pet shop and science classroom.
They are:
- Reddish-orange to pink in color
- Good natured
- Commonly available
- Inexpensive
- Easy to handle (but remember not to stress them out, though)
Chili: The Natural Bug Assassin
If you’re having a hard time controlling some pests, why not catch them and feed them to your pet “Chili”?
Rose-haired Tarantulas feed on:
- Crickets
- Grasshoppers
- Locusts
- Other small insects
However, it’s not advised to let these buggers run free around your house; instead you should take care of your pet and house it in a glass tank, while accommodating it with its needs.
If you are looking for another organic bug spray to control pests, check out EcoSMART.
This natural bug killer is also:
- Commonly available in major retail stores and online
- Inexpensive
- Easy to handle
Take for instance EcoSMART’s Flying Insect Killer. This product kills flying insects on contact, and is made with all-natural plant oils like cinnamon and peppermint.
Because it’s made from nature’s ingredients, it’s as natural as “Chili”, and just as safe for your kids.
Keeping your kids informed on bugs, while controlling the critters in a natural way is just another step in maintaining a safe home.
Family movie night anyone? I know of a good “Flick.”
2 Comments | The First 1,000 to Comment (Starting 12/21/2009) Will Become EcoSMART Product Testers!
By Kelly on Aug 3, 2010
That’s fascinating. I think I am going to get some of the flying insect spray to see if it can help with our mosquito issue at home.
By Davina Harvey on Aug 29, 2011
I live in an area where dangerous spiders have their way with people. And since moving into our new home we have run into some HUGE spiders. Im not savy enough to identify them but one that I caught looked like it may be a brown recluse. I say all that to say this: I don’t care if they are or aren’t dangerouse I want them out of my home. I am also just not very interested in using poisons;for various health reasons,in or around my home. I also have children with health issues and don’t want any added “threats” around them. Can you folks help?!?