In an effort to spice the Invertebrate forum up slightly I have decided to establish this thread.

Basically this will work like any other Q&A system, if you would either like to post a question on this thread or send it to me as a personal message, I will add your question to this thread, accompanied by an answer from myself.

Well, for ease of reading I shall subdivide this answer into two categories...

New World Species
All "New World" species (the only exception being the genus Psalmopoeus) possess urticating setae located on the opisthosoma, although the urticating setae of the genus Ephebopus are located on the pedipalps as opposed to the opisthosoma.

Urticating setae are generally a New World Theraphosid's first line of defense, being dispersed into the air if the animal feels threatened in any way. This is achieved by the rapid "rubbing" of the specimen's Leg IV against the appropriate section of the opisthosoma.

However, some species will utilise their urticating setae much more readily than others (the genus Brachypelma acting as a prime example), with many species preferring to either adopt a "Threat Posture" (the raising of both Leg I and Leg II's, generally accompanied by the spreading of the chelicerae) or fleeing in an attempt to avoid confrontation.

It is generally only when all "warnings" have been ignored will the spider resort to biting.

Finally, the species Megaphobema robustum has developed a very unique form of defence in the form of sharp spurs present on Leg IV.

Old World Species
Due to the fact that Old World Theraphosids do not possess urticating setae, they do tend to generally be much more defensive that New World species. The first line of defense for an Old World species is generally to either flee from what it considers a threat, or to adopt a "Threat Posture". If this warning is ignored, or the specimen is "cornered" then they will generally not hesitate to defend themselves physically.

An interesting form of "warning" that many Old World species adopt is stridulation. This is achieved by the "rubbing" together of the stridulating organs on the inside surface of the chelicerae, the resulting sound is akin to a hissing/rustling. African species in particular utilise this form of warning very often.

I hope that you found this post rather helpful!

Most common infections/defects/diseases in T's?

I shall reply, in full, to this message when I have regained my internet connection

and we hope that is soon matey!!

oh he is alive!! when is your connection back??

he didn't say as when, he hasn't been online since that message!! hope its soon though!!

i have 33 spiniphasma crassithorax eggs, it says on the internet they take 3-4 months to hatch, i am now on the 4th month and none have hatched, i kept them at room temp and sprayed them lightly every 3-4 days, can they take longer to hatch than it should?