Suggestions of Finding/Catching Tarantulas?

[Nuke Kioh]

Hey, everyone. I was wondering if anyone knew of a way to make it easier to find/spawn Tarantulas. I know they're pretty rare, but I spent over hour during their peak times, and only managed to find one... And end up getting attacked. Freaked me out.

Anyways, I would appreciate any helpful information on catching these darn things.

 

[FireNinja1]

Keep on going inside and out of building so that they can spawn. Go out of a building, scan the town, go inside, rinse and repeat.

 

[MayorSaki]

I don't know any other methods, but I just recommend walking around the town. Once I was in a fireworks show and each time walking around the town I saw at least three tarantulas/scorpions..

 

[Cookieblazer]

I only saw 2, but that was across a few days. Like fireninja said, rinse and repeat. They are usually either near cliffs, rivers, or around town. Keep a net out and walk around. They hiss at you, thus it will be easy to find

 

[Sanaki]

Well if you see one, I recommend standing to the side and standing still WITHOUT your net out at first with some decent distance between you two. Once you pull the net out it will run at you.. from there it's up to you to swing at the right time (?⊙ω⊙`)

 

[davidxrawr]

The later the better, I caught my first tarantula 30 min after I set the clock at 1 am vs 2 hours when I had it at 10 pm
I generally did laps around my town. Felt that would be better than going in and out of buildings

 

[Ettienne]

The only one I've seen, I caught. My method was to treat it like a beetle. Net out, approach slowly. If it hisses, freeze until it's stopped. Then continue.

 

[macuppie]

I usually set my time to 1-3am because that's when they are most likely out

 

[Titi]

approach slowly. If it hisses, freeze until it's stopped. Then continue.

Sounds like me when I try to catch my cat for a hug.

 

[Nuke Kioh]

Thank you all for the suggestions! Hopefully I'll be able to catch it later tonight, assuming I don't get caught off-guard by them somehow. I'll let you all know how it goes tomorrow!

 

[stitchmaker]

The best thing is to go about your daily routine. Just before 7pm I have the fishing rod or watering can in my hand. The net is the only tool in my pocket. All other tools I store in the letters.
A villager pinged me and while we were talking a tarantula started circling behind us. Finished the conversation and switched to my net and stood still. Than watched it and went into stalking mode.
Another time I was trying to catch a fish by the river and a tarantula walked behind me. It went behind the firepit which is close to the cliff. Got my net ready and went into stalk mode again. It came back out and I caught it.
Another time it was on the edge of the river. To stop it from jumping in I just moved back a little. It started to moved towards me so I moved forward slowly. It went for the river and I moved back more. The bug moved far enough from the river and I got it.

Summer Solstice is one of the best times to catch the tarantula. It's bright late at night. It's very easy to spot them.
Fireworks is another time to catch both bugs. I caught the tarantula first and than the scorpion an hour later on the 3rd fireworks show in 2 towns.

I caught my first tarantula last week in my first town. I went to visit a villager and when I came back out a tarantula just spawn.
It was close to the river but I got it.

Also if it's raining try going to the island for awhile. The day I caught mine in my first town it was raining all day and when I came back to bug hunt it was still raining. Tried the dream suite for awhile and it was still raining. Save and quit. Came back and it was still raining so I went to CT 3 times. The last trip the rain stopped and I got it.

When I found the spot that they were spawning a lot I removed some of the flowers,trees and a few PWP. More open spot to see the bug easier. The items can be put back once your done. Noticed that they spawn close to where the breakable rocks spawn or did spawn before PWP or trees were added. I added a players house and that's where the tarantula took me out last year.

 

[Ettienne]

Thank you all for the suggestions! Hopefully I'll be able to catch it later tonight, assuming I don't get caught off-guard by them somehow. I'll let you all know how it goes tomorrow!

You'll more than likely hear it before you see it. Listen close. Good luck! c:

 

[D-Anii]

I saw one tonight not realizing it would attack, and ran up to it with a net... and it attacked! (as it was my first ever..) and I was pretty livid when I saw that they were rare.

 

[Nuke Kioh]

And because of all your suggestions:

I FINALLY caught the evil, little demon. Thank you all for the suggestions! They really helped!

 

[stitchmaker]

Congrats on your catch. If you catch more wait for premium day to sell them at retail. Regular day is only 8K which is low for a rare bug. The giant stag is worth more.

 

[Silversea]

I remember the first time I saw a tarantula in WW on the edge of the water I just ran up to it and caught it. I had no idea they attacked or anything, it didn't make any sound and it didn't move either.

The extreme way to find tarantulas and scorpions (or giant petaltail for that matter) is cut all trees since that limits the bug types that can appear "in the way" of a tarantula. There is a limit to the amount of insects in the town at any one time as well, instead of wasting time scaring away/catching all the current bugs, just don't let them appear to begin with!

 

[stitchmaker]

Last night I caught my 2nd one. 3 villagers were in the same area and didn't move. It was close to the bridge and the 2nd player house.
Moved forward and saw a tarantula moving in front of the campsite. Got my net ready and it went for the cliff. It stopped at the edge and stayed frozen. Tried moving back and it didn't move. So I went into stalk mode and caught it.
My heart was racing as I ran to my house to store it.

 

[Luna_Solara]

I saw and caught my first one the other day. I think I was doing something in the Train Station. Anyhoo, when I came out, Ankha pinged me and there was a Tarantula, walking on along on my paths.
I usually cut all my trees down for the Tarantulas and Scorpions in June or July so I can landscape after I catch them. It's a way for me to change up my towns so I don't get bored lol.

 

[LyraVale]

Stand still somewhere with your net ready. Anytime I'm standing still for a long enough time, I get attacked. So I learned that that's the best way to generate them.

And listen, because they make a noise when they're around. Try to follow the noise to where they are and sneak up on them, because they give you a few seconds head start with their noise.

 

[Ankhes]

I've only ever seen two and not been able to catch them, and I've never heard their noise at all. Is that because I need to wear headphones? I think I play at a soft but reasonable volume without them, but if headphones would help I'd like to know. I can always buy an inexpensive pair.

My towns are in February and I want to carefully TT in one of them to Summer. I really want a tarantula and scorpion sooo bad! Well, two actually, one of each for the Museum and one of each for myself. I would love them as "pets."