Have spiders or insects you want gone for good? A local pro can treat your entire property.
Get a Local Pest ProAffiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission.
Texas Brown Tarantula Identification: It Is Not What You Think
| Characteristic | Texas Brown Tarantula | What People Fear It Is |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 3-4 inch leg span. The body is about 1.5 inches. Large but not giant. | People see a big hairy spider and panic. The tarantula is more scared of you. |
| Color | Dark brown to black body with lighter brown hairs on the abdomen. Not brightly colored. | Not a Brazilian wandering spider or Sydney funnel-web — those do not exist in Texas. |
| Venom | Mild — weaker than a bee sting. No recorded human fatalities from any tarantula species ever. | Deadly spider myth. Tarantula venom is specialized for insects and small prey — not humans. |
| Defense | Flicks urticating hairs from its abdomen when threatened. These cause skin irritation (itching, mild rash) — not venom. It will only bite if severely provoked. | Tarantulas do not want to bite you. Biting a human is a last resort that risks their fangs. |
| Why It Is in Your House | Male tarantulas wander in late summer/fall searching for a mate. They do not want to live in your house — they wandered in by accident. Females stay in their burrows for 20+ years and never enter homes. | It is not an infestation. There is no nest in your walls. It is one lost male spider. |
How to Safely Relocate a Tarantula
- Get a cup and a stiff piece of paper or cardboard. A large plastic cup works best. The card must be stiff enough to slide under the spider.
- Approach slowly. Do not make sudden movements. The tarantula will freeze or slowly walk away — it will not lunge at you.
- Place the cup over the spider. Gently. Do not trap a leg. The tarantula will sit still inside the cup.
- Slide the card under the cup. Keep the cup pressed against the floor or wall as you slide the card underneath.
- Carry outside and release. Walk at least 20 feet from your house. Gently tip the cup and let the tarantula walk out. It will find a new hiding spot in your garden or under a rock.
- Do not handle the tarantula with bare hands. Not because it will bite — because the urticating hairs on its abdomen can cause skin and eye irritation. Wash your hands after the cup-and-card method.
Why Tarantulas Are Good for Your Yard
A single tarantula eats dozens of cockroaches, crickets, beetles, and other pest insects every month. It does not build webs. It does not reproduce in your house. It does not damage anything. A female tarantula lives in the same burrow for over 20 years — making her one of the longest-resident beneficial predators in your yard. If you kill a female tarantula, you are removing 20 years of free pest control from your property.
Sources: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension; Texas Parks & Wildlife Department; American Tarantula Society. This guide is for informational purposes. If you are uncomfortable handling any wildlife, contact a professional.