Mating season for the Texas brown tarantula will soon be here in Texas. Understanding Texas Tarantulas. "There were hundreds of tarantulas crossing the road, all moving in the same direction," he says. They are relatively common throughout Texas and their large size makes them quite recognizable. Generally known to be active from May through October, the eighth month of the year (quite apropos) is when things get a little hairy for these critters. Arachnologist David Sissom of West Texas A&M University in Canyon recalls braking to a stop on Highway 385 just south of Odessa early one summer morning in 1986. The “migration” can start as early as August in Texas, and in other areas such as the Four Corners region, it begins in October. If you come across a tarantula in our state, it’s most likely going to be a Texas brown tarantula. Typically, the head-thorax region (cephalothorax) and legs are dark brown, the abdomen brownish black.

While it’s no secret that summer brings lots of critters out of the woodwork here in the hot, humid Lone Star State, the eight-legged variety will be especially populous. Everything is bigger in Texas – even the bugs. Here is what you should know and what you can expect.

Although some people have a healthy respect for these arachnids, others might be planning for high anxiety come August. "For 100 yards or so, there was easily a tarantula every meter or two. Now that you know they can’t hurt you, let’s talk a bit more about tarantulas in Texas. Order: Araneae Description: Tarantulas are our heaviest spiders by weight and have a body length of about 1 ½ inches (40 mm). By the time the cold weather approaches in November, the march is over. Giant Tarantulas Are Invading Texas By The Thousands This Summer. Common Name: Tarantula Scientific Name: Aphonopelma sp. I witnessed my first tarantula migration in Zion National Park around Labor Day.