The South Russian tarantula is a small poisonous spider that lives not only in the south of Russia, but also in the steppes of Ukraine and in the vast expanses of Central Asia. Since 2008, the South Russian tarantula has been seen in some areas of Belarus.
South Russian tarantula or Misgir.
South Russian tarantula or Misgir. 
South Russian tarantula or Misgir: close-up view of the muzzle. 
South Russian tarantula or Misgir: macro photography. 
South Russian tarantula or Misgir: macro photography. 
Meadow moth in the arms of the South Russian tarantula. 
The South Russian tarantula digs holes whose depth does not exceed half a meter, so it settles in areas with soft soil. It can often be found in river floodplains. At the same time, this type of spider prefers a dry climate, therefore, the range falls on the desert, semi-desert, steppe, sometimes forest-steppe zone.
As in all tarantula species, in the South Russian tarantula, the females are larger than the males. But this is not such a large species of spiders: the size of the female reaches up to 30 mm, the size of the males is up to 25 mm.
The South Russian tarantula lives in burrows and also hunts without leaving the burrow. It waits for insects, and when potential food appears nearby, it quickly jumps out of an ambush and bites the victim. The spider is most likely very sensitive to soil vibrations and "hears" the footsteps of its prey. Any insects, including spiders of smaller species, become a victim of a tarantula. By tying a button to a thread, and shaking it in front of the burrow of the spider, you can lure it out. At night, tarantulas themselves climb out of their holes and hunt insects. But they do not go far from their burrows.
Nora tarantula, steppe of the Kherson region. 
Mating season for this species of tarantulas begins at the end of summer. The male can become food for the female if he does not quickly leave the mating site after the completion of the act. For the winter, South Russian tarantulas go into hibernation, having previously deepened their burrows. In the spring, females expose their abdomen to the sun's rays; the heat from the sun promotes the formation of eggs. After the eggs are ripe, the female lays them in a cocoon that weaves from a web. In the future, she does not part with the cocoon until the eggs are ripe. As soon as the spiders come out of the eggs, the female helps them to get out of the cocoon by gnawing it. At first, small tarantulas hold onto the body of the female, sticking to her. But gradually they leave their mother, settling around.
The female of the South Russian tarantula drags her cocoon with eggs. Kinburn Spit in the Black Sea. 
The assertion that the bite of a South Russian tarantula is dangerous to human life is a myth. Of course, this is a venomous species of spiders, but their bite is no more dangerous than a hornet bite. Edema forms at the site of the bite and the skin may turn yellow. After two months, the skin condition will return to normal.
Misgir, as the common people call the South Russian tarantula, is a small poisonous spider that in fact does not pose a danger to human life. The female mizgir does not grow more than three centimeters, and in all tarantulas, the females are larger than the males.
South Russian tarantula or Misgir.
South Russian tarantula or Misgir.
South Russian tarantula or Misgir: close-up view of the muzzle.
South Russian tarantula or Misgir: macro photography.
South Russian tarantula or Misgir: macro photography.
Meadow moth in the arms of the South Russian tarantula.
Mizgir lives in the south of Russia, in the steppe part of Ukraine and in Central Asia. In 2008, reports began to arrive from Belarus that Mizgir had started up there as well. There they settle in the floodplains of the Sozh, Pripyat, and Dnieper rivers. In general, the mizgir chooses an area with soft soil for habitation, since this type of spider digs holes and his whole life is closely connected with his dwelling.
The depth of the burrow reaches 40 cm. The mizgir uses its burrow as an ambush, waiting for insects in it. When an insect appears nearby, the misgir quickly jumps out of the hole and pounces on the victim. At night, mizgir can leave the hole and hunt not far from it.
Nora tarantula, steppe of the Kherson region.
Mizgiri mate at the end of summer. The male quickly leaves the mating place, as the excited female can eat him. The fertilized female hibernates, while deepening the burrow. In the spring, she warms herself in the sun, exposing her abdomen under its rays. This way the eggs ripen faster. When they are ripe, the female lays them in a cocoon of cobwebs, which then guards and drags along.
The female of the South Russian tarantula drags her cocoon with eggs. Kinburn Spit in the Black Sea.
When little mizgiri hatch from the eggs, the female breaks the cocoon to help them get out. At first, the spiders live directly on the mother's body, eventually settling around the area.
A misgir bite is comparable in pain to a hornet bite. This spider is not at all dangerous to the life of an adult, its venom is not toxic enough.
The South Russian tarantula, or misgir, is a large poisonous spider belonging to the family of wolf spiders. It is common in southern Russia and Central Asia. Inhabits the steppe, forest-steppe and desert zones, giving preference to moist soils with a high groundwater table.
The length of its body, covered with hairs, can reach 35 mm. The hairs have a tactile function. Its color depends on the habitat and can be light red, brown-red, black-brown and almost black.
The spider's body consists of a small cephalothorax connected by a thin constriction with a fairly large abdomen. On the cephalothorax there are several eyes, a pair of legs (used to hold and kill prey) and a pair of legs (serving as the organ of touch). In addition, there is also an almost black "hat", which differs from the rest of the representatives of the South Russian tarantula family. The photo demonstrates it well.
This spider has 4 pairs of walking legs. On its abdomen there are spider warts. The fluid released from these warts instantly hardens in air and turns into a spider's thread. He also has poisonous glands. The poison is poured into the body of the victim through the ducts in the claws of the legs. These spiders are dioecious, and the males are smaller than the females.
The South Russian tarantula does not weave trapping nets; it uses a spider web to paste over the walls of its dwelling, build an egg cocoon and to overcome obstacles. It is thanks to the cobweb that the tarantula is able to get out of the glass jar. He hunts mainly at night and not far from the mink. If during the day an accidental insect enters the spider's dwelling, then he does not refuse an unexpected dinner. South Russian reacts to the shadow that appears near the mink. He believes that this is some kind of insect, and therefore jumps out in the hope of catching it. If you tie an object to a thread and create a semblance of movement near the mink, then in this way the South Russian tarantula can be lured out of the dwelling.
Spiders mate in August. Males do not survive the winter after this procedure, they die. Copulating females and young animals stay for the winter, which climb into deep holes dug by them and seal the entrance to them with earth. At the beginning of the next summer, the female lays eggs, entwining them with cobwebs. She wears the resulting cocoon on herself, supporting it with her hind limbs.
The spiders that emerged from the eggs hold on to the mother's abdomen for some time. The female goes to the water to get drunk and water the young. Having drunk, the spider moves through open areas and drops the spiders in different places, settling them in this way. Young individuals first look for shelter, and later begin to dig holes.
The South Russian tarantula rarely bites people, only for self-defense purposes. It happens that a spider that has fallen into a tent (dwelling) crawls through feeling tickling, sluggishly tries to remove from itself the source that interferes with sleep. The spider can consider this movement as a threat and bite the sleeping person. Therefore, being in nature, before going to bed, it is necessary to shake out all things and tightly close the entrance to the tent.
The bite of the misgir is quite painful, but not fatal. Causes swelling and redness. The site of the bite should be cauterized as quickly as possible with a match, since the high temperature promotes the decomposition of the injected poison. This method is applicable to all venomous spider bites.
South Russian tarantula (lat. Lycosa singoriensis) Is a representative of the wolf spider family, the size of which can reach 5 cm (females 2.5 cm). Occurs in deserts, semi-deserts, steppes and forest-steppes. Most often it catches the eye of the inhabitants of Central Asia, the southern part of Russia and Ukraine.
Meeting a South Russian tarantula is not a very pleasant event. Not only is the appearance of a spider often terrifying, but it can also bite. No, he will not attack first, but if disturbed or hurt, he can easily take revenge. In special cases, the tarantula even jumps up to a height of 10-15 cm to reach the offender.
The bite of a tarantula is not fatal, but unpleasant. Children have the hardest time - the bite site swells, hurts and itches. Moreover, the discomfort does not go away in one day. Therefore, you should keep your distance from him.
It is easy to recognize the South Russian tarantula: the upper part of its body is brownish-red, the lower part is almost black. The cephalothorax, tarsi and abdomen are densely covered with short hairs. There are eight eyes on the head, arranged in three rows. The two main eyes are dark, the rest are shiny.
In the wild, tarantulas live in vertical burrows, from which they get out only at night, and even then for a short time. The entrance hole is braided with cobwebs, the depth of the tunnel is usually 30-40 cm, but for the winter the spiders lengthen their dwelling and close the entrance.
The tarantula itself keeps close to the surface, waiting for a suitable prey. When an insect lands next to it, the spider quickly jumps out and attacks it. South Russian tarantulas feed on Orthoptera and various beetles.
You can lure a spider with a plasticine ball or a button tied to a thread. By swinging such a weight near the entrance to the hole, you can force its owner to get out. Otherwise, it is simply dug out of the ground. What for? It turns out that the South Russian tarantula is one of the most popular terrariums among local exotic lovers. He is unpretentious and quite calm - just what you need for home maintenance.
Females of the South Russian tarantula are caring mothers. Mating usually takes place in late summer. As a rule, males die soon after it, but females hibernate either indoors (then they are active during the entire cold period), or in a closed burrow. With the onset of heat, they begin to warm their abdomens, exposing them to the sun's rays.
At the end of spring, the female weaves a cocoon and immediately lays eggs in it. She then wears it on her until the spiders begin to hatch. As soon as the female senses movement, she immediately throws the cocoon to the ground and gnaws at it. Babies are an exact copy of their mother, however, their body length does not exceed 1.5 mm.
The mother allows them to climb on top of herself and "rolls" the babies until they start feeding on their own. Sometimes she has so many children that of the whole body of the female, only her eyes are free. Soon after the spiders crawl around the area, the female dies.
In the process of growth, spiders shed several times. At the same time, they do not reduce their activity at all and eat as usual. The South Russian tarantula is not considered a rare species. Moreover, global warming allowed it to expand its range, settling further and further north. So very soon, residents of the northern regions will also risk getting to know him.
The South Russian tarantula is a representative of the araneomorphic spiders, which belongs to the wolf spider species. It is quite large, but not aggressive. Some exotic lovers are happy to keep such arachnids in their home as pets.
Description
The South Russian tarantula is the largest spider living in Russia. Its body size ranges from 2.5 to 3 cm, while females are always larger than males. The body is densely covered with hairs. The color is usually gray with dotted blotches of black, there are also red and brown.
This arachnid has eight eyes, which are arranged in three rows. In the bottom row there are two pairs of small eyes, the middle row is occupied by the largest pair, which is central and looks forward, in the upper row there are two lateral small eyes, placed just above the middle pair.
On a note! It is believed that he is able to distinguish objects that are at a distance of 30 cm!
Spreading
For the South Russian tarantula, a dry climate is most preferable. For this reason, most often it can be found in the steppe, desert and semi-desert areas, less often in the forest-steppe zone. It appears and digs its holes in the fields, on the banks of various reservoirs, as well as in gardens and vegetable gardens. In a word, soft soils are attractive for him, in which he can easily equip his nest.
Earlier, the South Russian tarantula was distributed mainly in Central Asia, as well as in the southern regions of Russia and Ukraine. But due to the change in climate, these spiders began to wade further and further to the north, and where they used to be a rarity, they are now found in fairly large numbers.
- On the territory of Ukraine, the South Russian tarantula is called Crimean and at the same time it is the largest arachnid that is found in these places. His burrows with the owner inside are increasingly found by local residents on their backyard plots.
- Recently, these tarantulas have taken root in Belarus. They were first discovered there in 2008. These arachnids began to quite actively settle in the floodplains of the Sozh, Dnieper and Pripyat rivers.
- South Russian tarantulas lived in Bashkiria for a long time, but in 2016 their real invasion was noted. The reason for this was the abnormally warm weather, which that year lasted throughout the summer.
On a note! In Bashkiria in 2016, due to the bites of a South Russian tarantula, several people ended up in the hospital!
- Several species of tarantulas are widespread in Kazakhstan, and the South Russian one of them. The habitats are usual: the banks of rivers, lakes and salt marshes, and the most active zones are Aktau, Alma-Ata, Aktobe, Shymkent. In Kazakhstan, there are especially large tarantulas - sometimes their body length reaches 9 cm.
- As for the territory of Russia, large numbers of South Russian tarantulas were seen in the Astrakhan, Belgorod, Volgograd, Kursk and Saratov regions, as well as in the Tambov, Lipetsk and Oryol regions.
Features of existence
The steppe tarantula settles in holes, which he himself pulls out, and at the same time always lining the walls with its own cobweb. The depth of the burrow is usually 30-40 m. For hunting, he does not weave trapping nets, but catches prey at the moment when it runs past his nest.
The signal for an attack in this case is the shadow of a potential victim. Recognizing the outlines, the spider jumps out of its ambush with lightning speed, grabs its prey with its front paws, immediately plunges its chelicera into its body and injects poison. When the victim freezes, the tarantula begins a meal.
The diet of the South Russian tarantula includes:
- caterpillars;
- crickets;
- ground beetles;
- bear;
- cockroaches;
- beetles.
On a note! South Russian tarantulas often have cases of cannibalism, when they eat other spiders, which are smaller species!
Despite the fact that these arachnids are very attached to their burrow, single specimens can move away from it for fairly decent distances. There have been cases when South Russian tarantulas climbed into residential buildings located in small settlements.
Reproduction
The mating period falls on the last month of summer, at which time the males go in search of females. Having met a female, the male must show her his intentions, otherwise he risks being eaten.
The "boyfriend" raises the front of the body, exposes the first pair of legs and vibrates with the abdomen. In this position, he slowly approaches the female. Ready to mate, she begins to repeat the movements of the male. Immediately after fertilization, the male quickly leaves and prepares for the winter: he makes his hole deeper and clogs the entrance with soil.
The fertilized female also goes into her burrow for the winter. With the arrival of spring, it appears on the surface and exposes its abdomen to the sun's rays.
On a note! The heat promotes the early development of eggs in the abdomen. By the way, it is this ritual that often leads to dehydration of the female's body and she can lose about 30% of her weight!
When the maturation of eggs in the abdomen ends, the female weaves a silk cocoon from the web. She puts the laid eggs in it and carries it for some time on her abdomen. At the same time, the cocoon with future offspring is always in her field of vision and the female actively protects it in any situation. If she senses danger, then she will violently seize the cocoon with chelicerae and will not be able to take it away.
As soon as the female feels that the spiders begin to emerge from the eggs, she breaks the cocoon and helps the babies to get out. Young individuals climb onto the mother's body, and for some time she carries them on herself.
Gradually, the matured offspring leave the mother's body, settling around.
In its natural habitat, the South Russian tarantula lives for about two years, in captivity for a little longer, which is due to the absence of winter suspended animation, which to a certain extent slows down its development.
Consequences of a bite
For humans, the South Russian tarantula is not particularly dangerous. Of course, he can bite, but at the same time he will never be the first to attack. Representatives of this species are not aggressive and attack only in self-defense. Therefore, it is highly discouraged to disturb the tarantula or pick it up without special need.
When bitten, a person may feel a burning sensation and pain. Usually, edema forms in this place, sometimes the skin becomes yellow and recovers only after a couple of months. Due to the low concentration, the poison of this arachnid death in humans does not cause.
However, if you are allergic to spider or insect bites, an allergic reaction may develop, the manifestations of which will be:
- strong pain;
- a rash around the affected area;
- general malaise;
- dizziness;
- drowsiness.
Important! If a South Russian tarantula has bitten a child, then seek medical help immediately!
Home content
If you decide to keep a South Russian tarantula at home, then in this case, remember that it is quite fast and does not tolerate mistakes in handling. When trying to defend himself, he can jump to a height of about 15 cm and will certainly bite.
As for, the South Russian tarantula is unpretentious. He needs:
- a vertical terrarium from which the spider cannot get out on its own;
- a fairly thick layer of substrate - at least 30 cm so that your pet can dig its holes in it;
- a drinking bowl, in which there will be clean and fresh water every day, while the spider should have free access to it;
- food - for the South Russian tarantula, I usually buy food insects, the body size of which should correspond to the body size of the spider itself.
Important! It is highly discouraged to feed the South Russian tarantula with insects from the street!
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