Mating of Rose-Haired Tarantulas

The rose-haired tarantula is from Chile and is often called the Chilean rose-haired tarantula. Like all tarantulas, the rose-haired tarantula is not a social animal but prefers to burrow in dark, solitary habitats only interacting socially when mating is necessary. Male rose-haired tarantulas start the mating process by scouting out potential mates. When they find a potential female, they weave a mat of silk threads and deposit their semen on the mat. They scoop up and store the semen in the pedipalps for later insemination.

  1. Female Mating Response

    • Not all female rose-haired tarantulas are interested in all male partners. When the female receives the male's courting calls and dance, she can proceed toward mating with the male, choose to ignore his invitation or even attack him as prey. If she is interested, the female rose-haired tarantula will signal acceptance to the male by vibrating and tapping her legs. The male will use the semen deposited in his pedipalps to inseminate the receptive female.

    Male Mating

    • It is the role of the male rose-haired tarantula to go in search of a female partner of his species for mating. Once the male finds a female, he performs a very specific courting ritual that includes calls, dancing and burrowing to gauge her interest. If she responses positively, he inseminates her. Male rose-haired tarantulas are in danger of being attacked by their female partners after mating, so they routinely make their escape immediately following the insemination. While females live more than 30 years, the males only survive for about seven years and most die shortly after successful mating.

    Baby Production

    • Several weeks after the mating ritual is complete, the female rose-haired tarantula will deposit her fertilized eggs into eggs sacs that incubate for 42 to 63 days. The female spins a protective cocoon of silk webbing to guard the egg sacs and may produce babies numbering in the hundreds. The females mate on an annual basis and can do so multiple times in their lifespan.

    Mating Cycle

    • Some rose-haired tarantulas reach full sexual maturity for the purpose of mating at 2 years old but more typically between the ages of 3 to 9 years old, according to Desert USA. Males will leave their burrows in the late summer or early fall to seek out a female for mating. When inseminating the female, the male inserts his pedipalps into the appropriate opening on the lower surface of the female's abdomen. Once she lays her eggs, the female guards the sacs for six to seven weeks before they hatch. The babies stay in the nest for a while after hatching.