Hello RT fans, pretty tasty huh?

These are a delicacy, Aphonopelma seemanni, the semi-arid Central American zebra tarantula (not the more common northern hemisphere Salticus scenicus that's called for in most recipes). That's also why they're not sold in bulk the way you're probably used to buying dehydrated spiders.

The zebra tarantula is a semi-desert Costa Rican high-scrubland species and dehydration usually just puts it into dormancy. The special packaging here is really for your benefit. Aphonopelma seemanni should be consumed shortly after opening the can, as it revives in even slight humidity.

We first used these as salad garnish at a wedding reception, with unfortunate results. It's a shockingly strong-willed burrowing spider, and in nature their nest entrances resemble the human nostril. Anyway, live and learn.