Camel Spider
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Written by Jim on August 6th, 2007 with
326 comments.
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I caught one about 2 inches long in Glamis CA over the weekend. Just went down there to ride and watch the Sand Rails race, and one morning I came out side of the trailer and saw a small white spider digging like Hell! And I just threw a cup over it. When I looked closer I realized that I had caught a freakin Camel Spider!! So I i took it home with me and now its living in my 10 gallon terrarium filled with Glamis sand. So far I’m just feeding it small crickets, hopefully it lives and grows to its maximum length!
Corey said:
#5. February 13th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
I want one as a pet. They look cuddly
ARE YOU CRAZY!?
People, there have been cases when someone has lost their leg in their sleep from camel spiders. What they have is some sort of venom or chemical that makes it so you don’t feel the bite.. then they eat.
There is also a kind of spider in Brazil that does run and scream after you and it is NOT the camel spider, but it is bigger.
We have these freaks of nature here in Utah….EVERYWERE!
Theyre my biggest fear!
The camel spider can get that big because it’s very close familiar to a scorpion. Maybe the camel spider is the evolution between a spider and scorpion.
Some soldiers i know who are rebuilding Iraq, found some of those in there pants and boots. The spiders scare them almost to death.
That is freakin “HUGE” and ugly!!!!!!
hmm, the pictures look really scary…but when i saw it digging a hole in the video it did look kinda cute…until it ate the scorpion!
Awesome! There is only one speices in South America that has venom, and nobody knows if it can inject it or not.
I have been interested in spiders for a long time and if you look closely you notice some key points to the point that it is NOT a spider, one it only has one body segment two notice the eating pattern, spiders eat by turning the insides of insects to mush and drinking it this spider actually eats it prey. also I have been trying to find a specimen for testing, do you have any tips for capturing one alive?
No, Camel Spiders (Solpugidae) are not true spiders,but are related – they are arachnids, and are therefore related to scorpions, spiders, whip scorpions (vinegaroons or grampus), mites and ticks.
They appear to have ten legs, but the front ‘legs’ are really modified mouth parts – like the claws of a scorpion.
The jaws, which they chew their food with are similar to the small jaws of scorpions – but much larger.
Quincy,
As I unfortunately don’t live where camel spiders live (UK), I don’t have experience of catching them. But, if they are really fast-moving, I would try a medium sized net – about a foot across – on a long pole.
If the soil is loose sand you could push it under it, and if the soil is hard put it over it. If they are slower moving, maybe place a flat-edged container (dark) in front of it, and it will run in to escape the light.
You could also try the pitfall trap – a plastic cup sunken into the soil, the top at soil level. Put a live insect in it as a lure. Put slats of wood on the ground radiating out from the trap to guide the spiders towards it.
Of course you may trap other predators instead, so place a number of them out. Foxes often steal the bait!
I used the dark container method for catching giant centipedes – far more aggressive creatures than camel spiders.
Peejay
These things are pretty evil looking. I was stationed in Ft. Ord (Monterey, CA) in the 90’s and saw them often. First one I saw was at a MK19 range where it was primarily sandy, approaching dusk. They were only about 2-4″ long, varying each time. Very thick-bodied. Their head/face looks more like a scorpions. At first I thought they were whip scorpions until I did some research.
Their front-most legs are held up in the air more like antenna and they tend to move up and down as they walk. I’ve seen quite a few pictures of them over time and I’m pretty confident we are just looking at various species. I think that’s why people report seeing them in a wide variety of locales. While definitely freaky, I wouldn’t harass them unless they’re being belligerent towards you in close quarters.
I found 1 of these camel spiders n my bed where im stationed n bagport, the lil guy bit me n made my arm bleed n sweet up really bad, idk if i have an allergic reaction to them, but it is swelling up really bad and blood just keeps poppin out of these 2 lil holes on my arm. I covered it wit a bandage but it isn’t working, please help me!/
Okay,
I’ve heard they are harmless yet aggressive…numbing agent…no venom….what is the truth…
i know they eat away, legit stories saying they see chunks missing….underbellies of camels with holes that the ‘camel spider’ enjoyed….
THEY are Relatives to spiders…..so yes they can have 10 legs…well as we see them as legs
yes they can get big..but bodies are bout size of our hands…legs just emphasize how big they are…
who can tell me what the numbing agent is…i’m roaming the web…and all i get is “strong chelicerae”…and from wiki “Prey is located with the pedipalps and killed and cut into pieces by the chelicerae. The prey is then liquefied and the liquid ingested through the pharynx”"
i’ve been told its like the venom of a recluse spider “”have potent tissue-destroying venoms”" that numbs and liquefies the tissue so the spider may injest it…. but in all the quick research i’ve seen so many sites say…Camel Spiders don’t have VENOM….. so….who can tell me the truth
We live in eastern Montana and we have found 2 little ones in our garden. Nobody has been bitten by one thank goodness but one did crawl up my husbands leg. I freaked out and with my gloves on I grabbed it and smashed it right there. I had chills all over.
Hi Kandie,
I’m not an expert, but have been researching like crazy because I have found 4 in and around my house in the past week and have small children. I saw one rip the head off a black widow and immediately start chewing away.
They can be called false spiders because they are NOT a spider; no glands for silk, no injection of poison for digestion, bodies are segmented like an ant. Unlike most spiders (that digest their food outside the body and then suck it in) they have no venom! They make up for it with their aggressiveness, speed and huge jaws.
Pedipalps-their antennae that have sticky hairs and are used as front legs. (they can catch insects and climb glass with these)
Chelicerae-huge jaws with 4 scissor-like mouth knives that form a cone when closed. In relation to the size of the body, they are larger than those of any other arachnid. (this should be of comfort, they use these instead of venom- the worst a bite can do is get infected like a cut)
Here is how they eat-
Insects, sometimes still alive, are chewed into tiny pieces, they are quickly crushed, and liquefied into a wet shapeless mass. The muscles in the top of the throat suck the liquid from the mass until it is drained of its fluid and then discarded, nearly dry.
I was really relieved when I found this out. They are still super scary looking guys, but at least I know they are a predator of the black widow which poses more of a threat to my family.
I feel sorry for the fear these creatures evoke- not only for our service men, children everywhere, but for the species too. Most just want to burrow and get out of the sun. (This why they come running after your shadow- not chasing you) Still sometimes, I wish my husband would kill and not be so ecologically sensitive. I wouldn’t kill one with what I know, I just dont want to do the dirty work.
Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture, University of Washington
has a great site called spider myths, and it has link to a Nat. Geographic article which was really good.
They have provided entertainment and education for our family but I’m looking forward to the end of summer when these guys go away.
i have found a camel spider on my porch tonight and was the awful looking thing, but then again they do have a purpose ,one of them not being a pet,we live in ARIZONA and these are all over, but the first I’ve seen, but it now housed in a jar for my son’s school to learn about this and other species for his safety, I’m sure we will be seeing more of its family members soon but ,”"HOPING NOT”"
i was sleeping one day and i woke up and there was a camel spider that was like 7 inches next to me when i woke up i didn’t know what it was so it really scared me that’s when i asked my friend about giant spiders then she told me about camel spiders and i researched about them almost every day since
I found one in the garage last night. Scared the crap out of me. I live in Vegas originally from Wisconsin. We don’t have insects like this in Wisconsin. I came up with a story about him. His name is Craig from Yuma AZ. he was trying to crawl out of his fathers shadow who was a door to door shoe repair man. He didn’t know that this would be his ultimate demise of the bottom of a Nike.
i caught one today in my house in Colorado, it’s just a little one, can so far the myths are being proved to be just that myths, and i think the people to put it to the test would be Adam and Jamie from myth busters.
I’m in Cottonwood, California and I captured a camel spider yesterday. (July 9th 2010) I was told by coworkers that they are not native to the United States, but the information on this website seems to show otherwise.
It *does* have 10 legs (two of which have very tiny pincers). It also is slightly aggressive, and would chase me. When it sees/hears me come up to its cage, it rears up in a defensive position. I found it after dark and it seemed to be digging and catching bugs in the gravel of my driveway, near my garage. It doesn’t seem to ever make any sounds or ’screams’. It opens its big mouth defensively when it’s provoked/scared.
I was mostly concerned about if I should report it to someone as a non-native species, but if they’re found in Arizona and whatnot, I guess I’m safe!
As for the other comments on here…I think they got a little blown outta proportion on the internet. Don’t be afraid people ;P. Be more nervous of black widows, brown recluses, and rattlesnakes.
i live in South Eastern Washington, and we have found camel spiders HERE as well. These spiders are spreading quickly, probably due to service men coming home or products being shipped from Mexico or southwest states. Pretty Gross. My girlfriend found 3 of them at a school and brought them home for me to see. Definitely a camel Spider.
I grew up in West Texas, and for years I’ve been trying to get someone to identify this bug that looks like a scorpion sans tail, runs fast and will chase you while making a weird clicking noise. I think people thought I was crazy! So I finally did a dedicated search, and here they are! Good to know they aren’t actually dangerous, and it turns out they actually only chase your shadow. However, with all due respect, I must contradict one small point; they CAN jump, I’ve seen them!
Hi,
I have a Camel Spider and at the moment, its sat with all of its legs up in the air – like a triange position…..been like this for over a week.
Its still alive as it wiggles its abdomen when disturbed.
Does anyone know whats happening??
Please email me on: chris_may1981 [at] yahoo.co.uk
Thanks
Chris May
the camel spider hisses insted of screaming.