What Do Tarantulas Eat?

Tarantulas are carnivores that hunt live prey. Insects make up the bulk of their diet for most tarantula species. Grasshoppers and crickets are favorite foods. Cockroaches are common prey when available. Beetles of various sizes are eaten regularly. Other spiders, including smaller tarantulas, are hunted and eaten. Centipedes and millipedes are consumed when encountered. Flying insects like moths and flying beetles are caught from the air or ground. Some large tarantula species hunt larger prey. Tarantulas in the southwestern United States may catch and eat small lizards and tree frogs. Very large species like goliath tarantulas can kill and consume small snakes, small birds, and small mammals. Most tarantulas are ambush predators that wait for prey to come within striking distance rather than actively hunting. They eat when food is available but can survive long periods without eating between meals. The amount of food consumed depends on the tarantula''s size, sex, and how active it is.

Tarantula feeding patterns shift with the seasons, driven by prey availability and the tarantula''s reproductive cycle. In spring, tarantulas emerge from their burrows and dens after overwintering. Prey is increasingly available as insects and other arthropods become more active. Tarantulas feed regularly to build energy reserves. In summer, prey is most abundant. Tarantulas feed frequently as insects reach peak activity and abundance. This is prime hunting season. In fall, tarantulas feed heavily to prepare for winter dormancy. Males often stop eating or eat very little before mating because reproduction takes priority. After mating, females may eat more to recover energy. In winter, activity decreases dramatically for most tarantula species in temperate regions. Prey becomes scarce, and tarantulas eat far less frequently or not at all. Tropical tarantula species do not experience winter and feed year-round with less seasonal variation. Seasonal molting cycles also affect feeding behavior, as tarantulas cannot eat while preparing to shed their exoskeleton.

Tarantulas in California prey primarily on insects abundant in desert and scrubland habitats. California species like the desert tarantula eat mainly grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles. Texas tarantulas encounter different prey depending on habitat. In East Texas forests, prey includes centipedes and woodland insects. In West Texas deserts, grasshoppers and beetles dominate the diet. Arizona tarantulas hunt in arid conditions where insects, scorpions, and lizards are available food. Large Arizona species may hunt small reptiles. Coastal regions have different insect communities than inland areas, affecting available prey. Elevation changes affect prey availability, with high-altitude tarantulas having access to different insect species than lowland tarantulas. Urban areas provide different food sources than wild areas. Tarantulas living near human structures may prey on common indoor insects like cockroaches and moths. Swampy regions provide different prey than dry regions, with wetland tarantulas encountering different beetle and insect species.

Most tarantulas are sit-and-wait hunters. They burrow or hide in crevices and wait for prey to pass within striking distance. Tarantulas have excellent vibration sensing ability through their legs and body hair. When prey vibrations reach the tarantula, it responds in seconds with lightning-fast strikes. The tarantula bites and injects venom that paralyzes or kills the prey. Once prey is disabled, the tarantula drags it back to its den if necessary. The tarantula uses its fangs to break down the prey''s exoskeleton and soft tissues. Tarantulas are liquid feeders that inject digestive enzymes into prey and consume the resulting liquid. Some tarantula species actively wander and search for prey rather than remaining in a fixed burrow. These ''wandering'' tarantulas explore their territory and hunt opportunistically. Male tarantulas spend much of their time searching for females rather than hunting, so males often eat less than females. Tarantulas can survive months without food by slowing their metabolism. When prey is abundant, they feed frequently. When prey is scarce, they reduce activity and survive on stored energy.

Baby tarantulas or spiderlings hatch from eggs inside a silk cocoon. The mother guards the cocoon but does not feed the spiderlings. Spiderlings eat each other during their early development in the cocoon or immediately after leaving it. Cannibalism among siblings is natural and helps reduce competition. Surviving spiderlings begin hunting immediately after leaving the cocoon. They target very small prey like tiny insects, mites, and soil arthropods. Young tarantulas gradually increase the size of prey they hunt as they grow. Each molt allows for a larger body and stronger fangs, enabling predation on larger insects. Juvenile tarantulas feed more frequently than adults because they are growing rapidly and building body mass. Growth rates depend on food availability, temperature, and humidity. Well-fed juveniles grow and molt more frequently. As juveniles mature into adults, their feeding frequency stabilizes. The transition from juvenile to adult is marked by sexual maturity and the final molt, after which most male tarantulas stop growing and stop molting entirely. Females continue to grow slowly and molt throughout their adult lives.

Tarantulas living in or near human structures have access to different prey than wild tarantulas. Indoor tarantulas may hunt cockroaches, flies, moths, and other insects that enter homes. Some of these insects are household pests, so tarantulas provide a natural pest control service. Tarantulas in gardens and yards hunt garden insects like grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars. They may also consume spiders and insects attracted to flowering plants. Captive tarantulas kept as pets are typically fed crickets or roaches obtained from pet stores. Pet owners should never feed wild-caught insects to tarantulas without ensuring the insects have not been exposed to pesticides. Pesticide exposure can kill or harm the tarantula. Never attempt to feed a tarantula human foods, milk, fruit, or anything other than appropriate live prey. Tarantulas have no ability to digest plant matter or foods meant for humans. Providing inappropriate food harms or kills the tarantula. Tarantulas do not need vitamins or supplements if fed proper prey. Do not leave dead or uneaten prey in the tarantula''s enclosure for extended periods, as decomposing prey attracts mites and mold.

Wildlife across the country includes many spider species with different hunting strategies and diets. Wolf spiders are active hunters that chase down prey rather than ambush hunting like tarantulas. Wolf spiders eat similar prey but have different hunting methods. Jumping spiders hunt by stalking and pouncing, similar to tarantulas but much faster and more agile. They eat smaller prey than most tarantulas. Orb-weaver spiders use webs to catch flying insects, while tarantulas are ground or burrow hunters. Orb-weavers consume insects that get caught in webs. Fishing spiders hunt near water and can catch aquatic insects and small fish. Trapdoor spiders use burrow-hunting methods similar to tarantulas, ambushing prey from underground burrows. Both trapdoor spiders and tarantulas are sit-and-wait hunters with excellent vibration sensing. The key difference between tarantulas and other spiders is size and venom potency. Large tarantulas can consume prey that smaller spiders cannot. Tarantula venom is potent enough to subdue larger prey. Most other spiders use webs or speed to catch smaller prey and are less dependent on venom potency.