Tarantula hair has three other functions. First, they help the tarantula, which is cold-blooded, regulate its body temperature. According to Rovner, tarantula hair functions to trap a layer of air around the body and additional cuticle, creating a form of insulation. By having thick hair, tarantulas can remain active even during the cold nights in environments like tropical rainforests and deserts.

The long hair also serves as a kind of waterproof layer that can "repel water if the tarantula is submerged in a flood," said Rovner. The underside of the tarantula's leg hairs has "sticky" properties, which help them climb slippery vertical surfaces. This dense hair structure is known as scopula and also plays a role in capturing prey.