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ST. GEORGE — As the days grow colder, southern Utah's tarantulas are completing their annual moonlit quests for romance. And soon, sightings will be scarce again until next year.
While they spend most of their time underground, each year on the cusp of summer and fall, male tarantulas begin wandering the desert — sometimes traveling many miles — in search of a mate, said Amanda Barth, native insect conservation program leader for Utah State University.
"Depending on how abundant their food sources are, the migrations can be pretty large," she said. "This is when we start seeing them because ordinarily, they're quite reclusive."
"It's like a local phenomenon," Barth continued. "I think it's a special thing for people to get an opportunity to see. Not to have it be scary but to have it be special. … Be inspired by them — check them out. Take an opportunity to watch them for a second with a flashlight and be excited about this special thing that chose your path."
The males have undergone their final reproductive molts, shedding their old skin as they reach sexual maturity. They're several years old before making what is often their final journey.
