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Q: “Why did the tarantula cross the road?” A: “To find a mate!“
Well, along a lonely stretch of New Mexico State Route 20 between Fort Sumner and Roswell, there were plenty of tarantulas crossing the road for that specific purpose. In fact we saw 4.5 times as many tarantulas (9) as cars (2) along a 20 mile stretch the evening of October 15th. If possible sightings were also counted into the equation, there were six times as many arachnids (12) on the road than cars!
Source: vidiani.com
All of them were crossing just prior to sunset and all but one was traveling west to east. They are a part of an ancient annual ritual for these spiders. Traveling males (all are males) follow their senses to find females giving off pheromones to attract them to her burrow for mating purposes. In the eastern part of New Mexico, the ones we observed were Texas Brown Tarantulas.
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Call it the “Tarantula Trail,” the “Tarantula Turnpike,” or “New Mexico Tarantula 20,” this rural rangeland corridor is quite a treat to behold for nature lovers during fall mating migration. These little guys are on a mission and will not be dissuaded from their course.
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Eastern New Mexico isn’t the only place you can see male tarantulas on the move. Throughout much of the South Central and Southwestern states, they are looking for love in the early fall around sunset. La Junta, in southeastern Colorado advertises and promotes this annual migration as the “Tarantula Trek“ and even holds a yearly Tarantula Fest in late September or early October.
Source: visitlajunta.net
If you travel to see migrating tarantulas, be sure to drive with extra care and caution as these little creatures will be scurrying across the asphalt in search of love. Sadly, their enjoyment is brief, as they will die shortly after the mating ritual has concluded.
Peace!
https://panethos.wordpress.com/2024/10/16/where-tarantulas-outnumber-cars-on-the-road/
