.svg)
Ready to get your creepy-crawly on? August 8th is National Tarantula Appreciation Day! This day was created in the early 2000s to celebrate tarantulas and all of their unique characteristics. Despite popular belief, these eight-legged arachnids are actually quite harmless and can even make great pets. Whether you're a fan of these furry creatures or not, it's time to take a closer look at them and appreciate their beauty. Let's get ready to learn more about tarantulas and why they deserve our respect!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1843</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First Tarantula Description</div><div class='timeline-text'>The world's first scientific description of a tarantula, the Chilean Rose Tarantula, was published by Charles Darwin during his voyage on the HMS Beagle.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1933</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Tarantulas in Pop Culture</div><div class='timeline-text'>The movie "King Kong" features a scene in which the crew encounters a giant tarantula, possibly the first significant representation of tarantulas in popular culture.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1990</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Tarantulas Becoming Pets</div><div class='timeline-text'>The 1990s saw a surge in interest in keeping tarantulas as pets, due to their low maintenance needs and fascinating behaviors.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2005</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Creation of Tarantula Appreciation Day</div><div class='timeline-text'>National Tarantula Appreciation Day was created to educate people about these unique creatures and dispel widespread myths and fears about them.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2021</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Continuing Research on Tarantulas</div><div class='timeline-text'>Research continues into the behaviors, biology, and potential medical applications of tarantulas, contributing to our appreciation of this diverse group of arachnids.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Learn about tarantulas</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Take some time to learn about tarantulas. Research the different types, their habitat, and their diet. Get familiar with the unique features of these intriguing creatures.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Attend a tarantula event</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Look up local events that may be celebrating National Tarantula Appreciation Day. These events can be educational and fun for people of all ages. Plus, you might get the chance to meet a live tarantula!</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Go on a tarantula hunt</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Grab some friends and go on a tarantula hunt. Look around your area for any signs of tarantulas and take pictures of them in their natural habitats.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Watch a documentary</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Watch a documentary or an educational video about tarantulas. You'll learn even more about these creatures and will be able to appreciate them even more.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Make some tarantula crafts</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Get creative and make some tarantula crafts to celebrate National Tarantula Appreciation Day! Paint some rocks, make a paper tarantula, or draw some pictures of these fascinating spiders.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Tarantulas are fascinating creatures</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Tarantulas never cease to amaze and inspire. From their stunningly beautiful colorings and intricate patterns, to their unique behaviors and habitats - there is so much to learn about these amazing creatures! National Tarantula Appreciation Day is the perfect time to celebrate them.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Tarantulas play an important role in ecosystems</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Not only do tarantulas provide food for predators like birds, rodents, and snakes, but they also help maintain a balance in the insect world by eating pests, such as moths. By consuming these insects, tarantulas help us keep our gardens, orchards, and other spaces free of unwanted bugs.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Tarantulas make unique pets</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Tarantulas are becoming increasingly popular as exotic pets due to their low maintenance care requirements and interesting behavior. Whether you're looking for a furry companion or simply want something out of the ordinary, tarantulas make great pets that don't take up too much time or effort!</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Tarantulas Can Live Without Food for Long Periods</h3><p class='facts-content'>Tarantulas have the astounding ability to survive without food for up to two years, conserving their body energy efficiently.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Tarantulas Molt to Grow</h3><p class='facts-content'>Like other arachnids and insects, tarantulas go through a molting process where they shed their old exoskeleton to grow, sometimes even regenerating lost limbs.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Females Can Outlive Males by Decades</h3><p class='facts-content'>Female tarantulas have an impressive lifespan, often living up to 30 years in captivity. In contrast, male tarantulas usually live for only 5 to 10 years.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Tarantulas Are Named After an Italian Town</h3><p class='facts-content'>The name "tarantula" originates from the town of Taranto in Southern Italy. A local spider, the European wolf spider, was initially given the name due to a local dance called "tarantella".</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Tarantulas Are Theraphosids</h3><p class='facts-content'>Belonging to the family Theraphosidae, tarantulas differ significantly from other spiders. They have unique characteristics such as two pairs of book lungs and hairy bodies, contributing to their distinct appearance.</p></div></div>
National Tarantula Appreciation Day is celebrated on August 8th every year. In 2024 National Tarantula Appreciation Day will occur on a Thursday.
2023
Aug 8
Tuesday
2024
Aug 8
Thursday
2025
Aug 8
Friday
2026
Aug 8
Saturday
2027
Aug 8
Sunday
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
