@stux Indeed, typically tarantulas never (well very rarely) use their venom for defense. Even if they bite with their fangs in defense it is typically a dry bite. Their venom is used for feeding.

Kicking hairs is in fact the primary defense of almost all tarantula species. To a human it will just mean a really irritated arm. But to an animal it is usually going to get their face as they are trying to bite, as such it tends to get in their eyes and can be blinding.