Comments on: Camel Spider

By: sammy

sammy — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 01:27:53 +0000

the camel spider hisses insted of screaming.

By: Chris May

Chris May — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:51:16 +0000

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

By: Shiloh

Shiloh — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:45:10 +0000

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!

By: sarah

sarah — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:55:31 +0000

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.

By: Tiff

Tiff — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 04:16:56 +0000

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.

By: Allen

Allen — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 04:04:25 +0000

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.

By: Nick

Nick — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:32:02 +0000

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.

By: frank

frank — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 08:39:54 +0000

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

By: Candy

Candy — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 06:42:48 +0000

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”"

By: Emily

Emily — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 20:23:17 +0000

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.