Mexican red-knee tarantulas are preyed upon by aves, Lepidoptera, Squamata, and other insectivores. When threatened by large predators, Mexican red-knee tarantulas can flick or drop hairs off of their abdomen. These "urticating" hairs are barbed and dig into the skin, causing irritation or a painful rash. If the hairs penetrate an organism's eyes, they can cause blindness. (Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, 2009; Oakland Zoo, 2008; Orkin and Inc., 2009)