As summer starts its wind-down, a dramatic annual phenomenon is about to unfold: tarantula mating season. These large, hairy spiders, known for their imposing appearance and nocturnal habits, become ...

A tarantula makes its way across a trail in the Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park in Laguna Beach. (Marc Martin / Los Angeles Times) It’s a crisp night in the rugged mountains above Los Angeles ...

From the archive: This story first appeared in The Desert Sun in 2016. It was huge, plodding and menacing to my neighbors. I write of a large tarantula that walked in front of my sliding door last ...

This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here. Tarantula mating season runs from about July to November, skewing toward October in California. Female tarantulas ...