Uriticating hairs from Tarantula molt! Very irritating!!!

Two of my Lasiodora species of Tarantulas molted in in the last couple of days. My L. parahybana was sexed out as a male. While handling the second molt of my L. difficilis, much dryer, I experience the uriticating hairs the hard way.

Uriticating hairs are what some Tarantulas (new world sp.) use as a defense mechanism for warding off intruders or laying down a bed of these hairs just prior to a molt. These uriticating hairs are found on the Tarantulas abdomen. When the Tarantula gets irritated, it will flick these hairs in the air. They are very irritating to people, affecting your eyes, nose, skin, etc…

A word of caution when sexing your Tarantula through a molt. Use gloves or some kind of protection from the uriticating hairs. I have never had a problem handling fresh molts, still a little moist. In this case I handled a dry molt and inadvertently rubbed some of the hairs lose. If you have ever handle cactus or have worked with cactus, same feeling. Uriticating hairs get on your skin and you start itching and scratching miserably.

So before getting excited about looking at a molt or trying to sex your Tarantula via the molt, where gloves and handle with care. I have handled these molts many times before bare handed without incident. It has been a miserable afternoon. Good luck with your molts.