'Ding dong, it's time': dancing tarantulas emerge in droves to mate in western US

Males have begun their walkabout seeking a mate (and hoping not to get eaten) - and this year has seen a big turnout

Gaggles of tarantulas are emerging from their burrows across the western US on a quest to mate, hunting for love in prairies, foothills and a garage belonging to Kim Kardashian West.

From August to October, the eight-legged crawlers go on a walkabout for a once-in-a-lifetime foray to find a partner. The phenomenon is now occurring on a unusually large scale from northern California to Colorado and Texas, shining a light on the arachnids' remarkable mating behavior, which can involve dancing and cannibalism.