Is Fort Worth home to tarantulas?
By Ismael M. Belkoura
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YES
Tarantulas are native to Texas, and are one of 14 species of arachnids living in the state.
There have been several tarantula sightings in Fort Worth, according to iNaturalist, a crowdsourcing species website. The majority of tarantula sightings in Tarrant County have been on the west side in cities such as White Settlement and Benbrook.
Tarantula sightings increase in the summer because of the annual tarantula migration, a phenomenon where male tarantulas that are ready to reproduce actively search for mates.
Aphonopelma is a common genus of tarantula in the U.S., and includes Texas-based species such as the Texas brown tarantula.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
iNaturalist ) Tarantulas (Family Theraphosidae
iNaturalist About iNaturalist
National Park Service Field Guide to Spiders and Scorpions
Texas A&M AgriLife Field Guide to Common Texas Insects
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