Sensationalist tarantula drama on reality show...ugh

[Sharno]

Hey all -
I do not want to give these idiots more traffic, but I'd like to know if I am crazy to think this entire "tarantula infestation" on kardashian's show is 100% fabricated. The lame web site reporting on it called tarantulas "insects" but that's a bonehead thing a lot of media say.

The clip has pest control saying "it's mating season" and that's adding to the problem. I believe mating season here (Southern California) is in the Fall, isn't it?

And the tarantula they show does not look like a typical Aphonopelma variants? The one in the clip has the little red patch, and for the life of me I know what it is but can't recall the name. If they have 100% fabricated this, I am surprised they didn't go buy a few large B. hamorii.

If anyone can stomach the clip it is below. If I am wrong and this was 100% authentic, I guess you learn something new every day!

http://toofab.com/2018/02/08/kourtn...-kardashians-tarantulas-spiders-laura-pippen/

 

[Arachnoclown]

First thing...what is televised on TV happened months and months ago...so it was probably breeding season then. Looks to be a male Aphonopelma johhnycashi...could be wrong though??? Maybe @KezyGLA would know for sure. I'm viewing on my phone and the glass is cracked.

 

[Matt S.]

First thing...what is televised on TV happened months and months ago...so it was probably breeding season then. Looks to be a male Aphonopelma johhnycashi...could be wrong though??? Maybe @KezyGLA would know for sure. I'm viewing on my phone and the glass is cracked.

Today I learned that there is a species of Tarantula named after Johnny Cash. Being the mechanism by which this information was shown to me may be the best thing the Kardashian reality TV show has ever done.

 

[Sharno]

I realized finally what kind of tarantula it resembles - euathlus sp. 'red' - chilean red. I don't know of any Aphonopelma or other california tarantulas with that splash of red. You can see it at around :52 seconds of the clip. Good point about the filming time. Even if it was the Fall I find it hard to believe they had a tarantula walking across the backyard and happened to see it for camera.

 

[Arachnoclown]

Aphonopelma Johnnycashi are found in California and the males have a small red patch on the abdomen. There are also a couple other Aphonopelma species like it native to California.

 

[Arachnoclown]

Here's 2 species of Aphonopelma living in California that the males have red on the abdomen. Theres probably others also. Apon a quick search there was around 10 others that were in the Aphonopelma genus that lived in other parts of the U.S. and Mexico that the males all had red on the abdomen.

http://www.tarantupedia.com/theraphosinae/aphonopelma/aphonopelma-madera

http://www.sci-news.com/biology/aphonopelma-johnnycashi-new-tarantula-species-johnny-cash-03615.html

 

[Whitelightning777]

I can't watch the Kardashians without gagging. Where's the Eco fanatic folks who look it for nature? They aren't important when sleaze is in town!!

 

[Arachnoclown]

@Sharno what part of California do you live in??? I've found 100s of Ts in California. I find in hard to believe you've never seen one walking around, especially in the fall.

 

[Sharno]

I am in Anaheim - I know there are tarantulas in the canyons around here, for sure. And males are readily seen in the fall. I just questioned the timing and coloration of the on on the show. Thanks to everyone that posted potential tarantulas and links!

 

[Dave Jay]

Sharno, you now owe me brain cells!