A male Desert Blond Tarantula shot in Cave Creek, Arizona. Don’t see them in the day very often, this guy was trapped in a small bucket so I grabbed my camera and set him free. Took about 40 shots to get 3 worthwhile, as every time I got down in front of him he lifted up his 2 front legs and ran at me – blurring almost every shot.
Canon 20D with a Canon 100mm Macro.
The female is uniform in color, while the male has black on his legs. Desert Blond Tarantulas are nocturnal predators that rarely travel too far from their burrows, except during mating season. In addition to their venom, they utilize the hairs on the top of the abdomen for defense. These hairs are tipped with backward pointing barbs. If a tarantula is threatened in any way, it brushes these hairs into the face, paw or another portion of its attacker, these barbs are irritating and difficult to remove.
I would want to be on the end of a 500mm lens to capture this shot – macro NO WAY
lol… Thank you very much, Kelly : ) I wouldn’t just pick him up, but they’re pretty docile, if he had just stayed still ;)
– Daniel J. McCauley IV
pollyhabout 3 years ago
UGH!!! You make me even happier I don’t live in the desert Daniel!!! You keep capturing these creatures, I’m more than happy to sit back here and appreciate your photographic skills! Lol… Carol
Comments
I would be a little nervous if he started running toward me, you are brave. Great capture Daniel.
lol… Thank you kindly, Rosalie!
– Daniel J. McCauley IV
I think I would have been running the other way. They are fine at a distance or behind glass. Yikes. Excellent capture.
No, they are really pretty harmless ; ) Thanks much, Bunny!
– Daniel J. McCauley IV
Thank you, Mick! I was afraid it may be too dark, much appreciated!
– Daniel J. McCauley IV
Makes me ever so glad I don’t live in the desert!!! Great detail and clarity Daniel, beautifully captured.
Carol :o)
Very much appreciated, Carol! These guys are nothing next to the scorpions, black widows and the recluse spiders ; )
– Daniel J. McCauley IV
I see u r out and about nice one
Thanks, G! Yeah, I got this guy just a couple of days ago :-)
– Daniel J. McCauley IV
I would want to be on the end of a 500mm lens to capture this shot – macro NO WAY
lol… Thank you very much, Kelly : ) I wouldn’t just pick him up, but they’re pretty docile, if he had just stayed still ;)
– Daniel J. McCauley IV
UGH!!! You make me even happier I don’t live in the desert Daniel!!! You keep capturing these creatures, I’m more than happy to sit back here and appreciate your photographic skills! Lol…
Carol
That’s too funny! Thank you kindly, Carol! lol…
– Daniel J. McCauley IV
Excellent capture
Thank you very much, Wildrider!
– Daniel J. McCauley IV
Fantastic capture
Very much appreciated, Kathy!
– Daniel J. McCauley IV
Great capture, Daniel. I don’t think I would want to run into one. xo
Harmless, just don’t step right next to one : ) Thanks much, Lori :-)
– Daniel J. McCauley IV