Suprising Psalmopeus

[Mark Harrison]

Is it possible for sp. of Tarantula that are considered arboreal to have both a burrow and webbed retreat? The spider in question is a Psalmopeus Irminia and has constructed a burrow and a webbed retreat, i was under the impression it created a silk hammock akin to Avic sp.'s or hid under tree bark/holes (like Poecilitheria sp.).

Is this a common thing to see or is it the T's way of building a retreat when other resources are not favourable? The spider itself has recently moulted without problems and is feeding well, so it has suffered no adverse effects from this terrestrial attitude.

[Eduard Johan Hijmensen]

Psalmopoeus are well known for making use of both burrows and tree retreats.

in Guatemala i found some Psalmopoeus in holes in a boulder.

[Zoltan Mihaly Lestyan]

Hello Eddy,

Is that a young specimen?

[Eduard Johan Hijmensen]

yes. but we also found a sub-adult male in the same boulder. he molted once into mature male.

[Eduard Johan Hijmensen]

there will be an article in a coming BTS journal.

[Mark Harrison]

Thanks Eduard, i think its really fascinating that all that we know is getting turned upside down with more of these discoveries.

[andy hood]

my female irminia lives in an enclosed silken retreat in her tub

[michaelmckinney]

I have seen alot of T's that don't follow their predisposed natural tendencies. I had a sub adult female C.crawshayi that built an Avicularia like tube on the floor of the viv and never burrowed. And my sub adult female P.irminia lives in a tube web attached to the underside of a piece of bark with the entrance dug right under the substrate with a trap door like contraption leading in and out!!! LOL.