urticating hairs
Tarantula's itchy projectiles
Urticating hairs are fine, barbed hairs found on certain caterpillars, spiders (especially tarantulas), and some plants that cause skin irritation on contact.
The hairs break off easily and embed in skin, triggering itching, rash, or inflammation.
Tarantulas kick urticating hairs from their abdomens as a defense mechanism: The tarantula flicked urticating hairs at the perceived threat.
- allergensImmune reaction triggers
- allergic reactionImmune system's hostile response
- barbsSharp points or jibes
- tarantulasLarge hairy spiders
- kick offInitiate an activity
spines · setae · venom · poison dart · bristles · dermatitis · skin rash · itchy skin · protective gear · exoskeleton · itching · spraying · antihistamines · stingers · detachable · inflammation · microstructures · Lepidoptera
- animal defensespoison, venom, toxin, toxins, horns
- tarantulastarantula, spiderling, sling, molt, molting
- arachnid anatomyspinnerets, pedicel, carapace, book lungs, cephalothorax
- larval defensesspines, bristles, eyespots
defense mechanism type
urticating hairsstinger
Venom-injecting body part
venom glands · fangs · venomous bite · poison glands · claws