tarantula

[Ital. tarantella; O. Ital. tar antola; Fr. tarentule, from Latin Tarentum (now Taranto ), a town in the south of Italy, where the animal is found.] 1. Zool.: Lycosa tarantula , a large spider, with a body about an inch in length; its bite was formerly supposed to produce tarantism (q.v.), and doubtle , in some cases, produces disagreeable symptoms. It is a native of Italy, but varieties, or closely allied species, are found throughout the south of Europe. The tarantulas of Texas and adjacent countries are large species of Mygale. *2. The same as TARANTISM (q. v.). Tarantula. (One-third natural size.) 3. A dance; also the music to which it is performed. [TARANTELLA.] tarantula-killer, s . Entomology : A very large wasp ( Pompilus for mos us ), which captures the Texan tarantula ( My gale hentzii ), and places it in its nest as food for its young, after paralyzing it by a sting. ta-răn-tu-lat-ěd, adj. [TARANTULA.) Bitten by a tarantula; suffering from tarantism. IMG:content-0820.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-0821.png:[blocks in formation]