New World tarantulas have an extra defense mechanism that Old World tarantulas do not – they have urticating hairs on their backside that they will flick off their abdomens and will usually use this defense before biting. So, if they are so dangerous, how do you keep them? In addition, these Old World spiders are far less docile and more likely to try and bite an adversary (including humans) if provoked. While these hairs are incredibly irritating and painful/itchy, it’s pretty mild compared to a bite. It’s important to note that many species of tarantula that have urticating hairs available to them never attempt to actually use them when handled, this includes Rose hairs and Redknees. New world tarantulas have the defensive feature of urticating hairs, which are short barbed hairs that they flick at their attacked to cause severe irritation and pain. They don't have any chemicals in or on them like some plants and animals. All of the above tarantula species are popular with beginners, which helps to explain why so many first time tarantula keepers are faced with this question.. Urticating hairs are a defensive feature of tarantulas. When the Americas were discovered, they were the "New World." While these hairs are incredibly irritating and painful/itchy, it’s pretty mild compared to a bite. This tarantula is medium built with a stout body. Anyone working with new world tarantulas possessing urticating bristles must take precautions and care when working with these animals or their enclosures. Tarantulas do not exhale sir through their mouth when defending themselves they have bristles on the chellace they run together and is known as stridulation. As it is a new world tarantula, Nhandu chromatus has urticating hairs that it can flick at any threat. How Long Do Tarantulas Live and What Do They Eat? One Response to “Old World and New World Tarantulas” Anonymous Says: May 27th, 2019 at 12:57 am. As you might have guessed from their name, these hairs are irritating when they make contact with the skin, eyes or nose of a potential predator. New World tarantulas have an extra defense mechanism that Old World tarantulas do not – they have urticating hairs on their backside that they will flick off their abdomens and will usually use this defense before biting. It is thought that this defense mechanism allows these tarantulas a more laid back disposition. Some tarantulas shed bristles as territorial markings, so even if the tarantula is not present, there may well be loose bristles on the substrate or webbing which can still cause problems. Most New World tarantulas tend to be much slower then their counterpart Old World Tarantulas. Urticating hairs or urticating bristles, i.e. My first tarantula was a New World Arboreal, C. versicolor (pictured left) New World terrestrial tarantulas have urticating hairs and many aren't afraid to flick them. His pet tarantula had shot tiny hairs at him, lodging in his cornea. Of course there are some exceptions especially for certain Genus’ (example: Psalmopoeus and Ephepobus). Whereas New World Tarantulas in general tend to be more docile, and will bite less frequently because they rely on a different defense mechanism – the urticating hair. The urticating hairs are 100% mechanical. Arboreals are less hardy than many terrestrial species but can still make a great first tarantula if starting with a juvenile or older. irritating hairs, are one of the primary defense mechanisms used by numerous plants, almost all New World tarantulas, and various lepidopteran caterpillars. These hairs which cover the abdomen, in their thousands, come off very easily with a simple rub of one or more of the tarantulas legs. The concept of attack hairs is often ignored by most people, but the reality of the situation is that it's no laughing matter. Old World tarantulas do not have these hairs, although they do have more potent venom. From my understanding, urticating hairs are very small, impossible to avoid hairs that detach from the spider’s abdomen. Also I have read of some keepers being sensitized through the years to the urticating hairs and changing the collections from New World species to Old World species. Old World Tarantulas, especially those native to Asia, differ from the New World tarantulas as this species lack urticating hairs. As most spiderlings are fast the aforementioned Genus’ are particularly fast.