Bird-eating spider hairs. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the irritant hairs of a bird-eating spider (Lasiodora parahybana). This large tarantula scrapes these hairs off its abdomen as a form of defence. The hairs are extremely irritating to the skin and mucous membranes, and may cause attackers hours of pain. This bird-eating spider inhabits the moist forests of northern South America. It may have a leg span of over 23 centimetres. It does not feed exclusively on birds, but takes whatever small animals it can catch. Magnification: x5,750 at 5x7 cm size. Magnification: x3000 at 35mm size.