A camel spider can run at 30 mph and they have a terrifying scream while they run! At least that is what urban legend and popular myths would have you believe. The truth is that a camel spider can only run about 10 mph. Camel spiders can get up to 6 inches long and are nocturnal creatures (prefer the night).
A camel spider, which is also in the class Arachnida with spiders interestingly enough, is not a spider at all. A camel spider is actually a solpugid, and there are about 900 species of them known to date. Around 50 species of camel spiders are found in southwest US and about 240 in southern Africa. The reason behind the name ‘camel spiders’ is simply because they are found in the desert. A Camel spider is also known as wind scorpion, sun spider, and wind spider.
This spider will dig holes and burrows where they spend time during the day. Because the camel spider possesses no venom and is not poisonous and must rely on other assets, for example their force and their speed.
Camel Spiders
Camel Spiders can jump 4 or more feet into the air, eat the stomachs out of camels, and can grow to be the size of a dinner plate – again, another myth of which none are true.
In fact, the picture of the soldier holding the camel spider is really a picture of two camel spiders attached to one another and held out in front of the soldier to make it appear larger than it really is! The picture of the smaller camel spider below is what you can expect.
Screaming Spider
What spooks so many people is that the camel spider seeks out shadows, so if your walking (and even running), the camel spider will actually follow your shadow! This leads to people imagining that the spider is screaming while chasing them!
Because they run so fast and stay in your shadow, you might think they are chasing you but in fact, they are simply staying out of the light.
The next time you are walking and notice a massive spider following you, don’t get to excited, it’s just you standard camel spider seeking shelter.
Camel spiders are nocturnal and they spend most the day hidden in burrows that they excavated themselves rather than using a pre-existing hole.
A Camel spider is more likely to be seen during the spring and summer months due to the fact that they dislike cold weather. Camel spiders typically feed on insects, scorpions, or lizards and often eat so much that they become bloated and can hardly move (much like I do when eating out!)
The camel spider is not dangerous and typically does not bite humans unless it is on accident or they feel threatened (except for this Camel Spider Bite), as is the case with other spiders. Like other spider bites, it is important to consult a doctor immediately after being bitten by a camel spider, especially if the kind of spider is unknown.
they do look cudly!
I live in a small town called Hanford, Ca. We see these things all the time. They are only about an inch or two when we see them. They really scare us every time we spot them! I just want people to know that they are not only on the other side of the world or just in the desserts.
so i think all of you who like these spiders are really crazy! You might think that there cute and cuddly but there really not. Blah, they’re gross I hate them 🙂
What is your problem…why would anyone think that those things are cool or cuddly i cant even look at them or anything like them
yeah they are pretty cool but the myths surrounding them are overrated. if you look in the photo posted the TWO camel spidders that are being held up are only about as big as his sleeve and they contain no poison. they are still extremely aggressive and can travel pretty fast 10 mph average. and yes you can have them as pets- i dunno about you yanks but over here in the UK you can order them online for as little as ?17 or roughly $40 in your terms. but think wisely before getting one of these as a pet although not poisonous their mandibles are treacherous and can even bite through wire mesh. you must get a tamper proof plastic tank and make it impenetrable. due to there aggressive nature and speed and instinct to seek out shade if they get loose you will be screwed! it unlikely that it will attack you but it may attack smaller pets and will be very hard to find so if you are interested in keeping one it is best you either have some experience with previous aggressive arachnids or do your homework and learn as much as possible. if you treat it with respect it will treat you with…..
it wont get the chance to bit you!
This is the biggest spider I have ever seen since 8 legget freaks. My uncle is in the army and I asked him about these spider and he told me they wher not a threat to the crew.
if any one can give me better info about these please email me a bugtupper @ msn.com
These spiders are amazing lol! I wouldn’t like to come across one tho :oO
I am just glad they don’t live in England :o)
yo Tarantula3453, if u have 19 Camel Spiders then do you want to sell one to me? is u do then email me @ hmong_GT_S @ yahoo.com thanks.
ah, now I am scared!
hey, ya i got kind of curious about camel spiders so i thought id find out a little more, and they’re amazing!!!we don’t have them were i live but i wish we did! its the only spider i think i can really tolerate…lol..but these things are awesome and if you are one of the lucky ones that get to hang out with these things then go play!!…lol…
I Have 19 Camel Spiders
These things look so cool i wish i could have one but i already know if i were to get one my parents would kill me. But those who think these camel spiders are creepy looking, you have to admit that they also look so cool. :)LOL
BoBbY jOe WaS HeRe AnD tHeSe ThInGs ArE aWeSoMe!!!
Well for starters I’m not arachnophobic but I don’t like spiders or centipedes or any other crawly leggy spider like creatures I live in Cali and there’s almost always a black widow hiding in a dark spot or a wolf spider near me I’ve been bitten in my sleep a lot,but these camel spiders are so fascinating that I actually want one! It’s crazy but those things are awesome. I’d name it…..Saddam.
can camel spiders be poisonous.
I just can’t believe my eyes! I’m scared!
I think these camel spiders look COOL!
Just to let you all know…. there is a motion picture that is being made about camelspiders with a twist to it. Yes it takes place somewhere in the desserts of Iraq, and it deals with soldiers fighting against them in a horrific way . It might just work, because these things are based on real events.
you need to put camel spider bites on this site so we can see them
man these spiders are so freaking cool send me one
I really want a camel spider. If anyone can send me one or iknow where i can buy one email me.
camel spiders are disgusting i went to iraq in 05 and seen a couple but they were no bigger than 3 inches i nmaybe goin back soon and im dreading it.
I have a camel spider in my house, its pretty intense it steals all my food
I live in South Africa in the area known as the Little Karoo. We have a species of Camel Spider around here too. It has been said by this one culture, that the spider looks for hair at night to make it’s nest. It uses its mandibles to get the hair out from the root; as a result of this; one is left with a hairless spot, which never grows back again. We haven’t actually seen any cases of this type of thing happening. At night those people sleep with stockings on their heads, as to prevent this from happening.
There was one evening a couple of years ago, when the lounge door was left open and this Camel Spider ran in. It had a huge thorax. It was pretty fast and you could hear it running on the linoleum flooring; if you had to tap long fingernails on linoleum flooring, that would be exactly what it sounded like. It had been squashed with a broom. It’s blood was a very egg yolk-like yellow.
Those camel spiders are awesome =} dangerous i will love to have one as a pet!
i think they are very cool. i want one as a pet. i was wondering if anyone has one or can get one for me. thanks.
My best friend and i caught one and thought it would be cool to keep under his bed for his mom to find. The next day i came over and found it feasting on his leg. he woke up and passed out instantly the moment he saw his leg. He went to the doctor and it got carved up pretty bad. Now he’s got a big patch on his leg. Think twice before you get one of these as a pet. If you insist on having a camel spider, make sure it is IMPOSSIBLE for it to get out!
I have two of them,,,their verry expensive to purchase and to keep,,the truth is that their verry boring insects,,a tarantula is much more entertaining,,plus the camel spider is to afraid of you,,my tarantula is so cute,,i have so much fun with it,,,i think it likes me,i only think,,,because i sat on it for 20 seconds and it didnt do anithing,it just waited for me to get up!!well i only wey like 72 kg,, a car ran over one and it was fine,it just sank a bit in the sand!! anywheu the camel spider is verry dumb,just stupid,,it looks col,but a hairy tarantula is much mote fun!
As kids we caught these things in the semi-desert near Kuruman in the Nothern Cape Province, They are not as big as the myth and none of us ever got bitten. We would put them in a can and when we got two together we would shove them into a face off. Invariably the bigger one would kill the smaller one, but would not last a fight with another one.
I Thought they were about 3ft long but after reading this website i found out that they are only about 6in long and i would find it hard to try to battle them w/ a sorwd but it would be sweet to watch them fight each other.
holy smokes! if i had seen one of those spiders eye to eye i’d be terrified three weeks from sunday!!!!
camel spiders arnt spiders looks like a spider and a scorpion together they are called spogulids. names can be misleading such as a sea spider isnt a spider its an ancient group of arthopods from the cambrian period
I hate spiders and everything about them, but the more I look at the bites and the spiders doing this, the more interested I get about them. Its sad to see the pain people are in from these bites, but those pictures just goes to show you, you need medical help if you think you need it. Dont wait until its too late
I believe I’ve seen one of these spiders camping in Orland, CA., on July of 2005. Could be wrong, but the descriptions remind of it and those who’ve seen them in the U.S. make the odds pretty possible.
I’ve done my share of time in the sandbox (Central Iraq, near Tikrit) and just like everyone else on this page that has been there, I too have to say that a lot of the stories people spread are false.
They do grow to about 6 or 7 inches (the biggest one anyone in my unit caught was 7 inches), and they do move slightly faster than most spiders (10 MPH is pretty accurate). But the jumping, unprovoked attacks, poison, and all that other garbage is all myth. One thing that scares a lot of troops is the fact that they WILL follow you around during the day, but not to attack. Quite the opposite, really. They are actually trying to stay in your shadow and enjoy the shade you are providing, and are actually rather grateful. They are mainly nocturnal, and are not accustomed to the heat and sunlight of the daytime.
Now, the stories of “Camel Spider Battles” are true. Those I’ve seen take place. Usually troops will try to find the largest ones possible, attempt to keep it fed and battle-ready, and pit them against each other, as well as against lizards, mice, and other small wildlife. Usually a large box or even a garbage can lid can be used as an arena, and I’ve seen many Sunday afternoon battles take place.
As far as bites go, I have been bitten once (I accidentally grabbed an unsuspecting arachnid that was hidden behind a box) and it was a little painful, but nothing excruciating. Unfortunately, I didn’t take a picture of the wound, but they tend to be slightly jagged, and heal fairly quickly if treated immediately.
I would like to know how much someone would pay for a camel spider? I see them around my home all the time. I would sell your readers a camel spider.
12/14/07 at 8:15 PM
I’ve heard a lot about these camel spiders i think they are pretty cool! Whenever somone would tell me more about them i thought that was cool how big they were. One kid in school told me that they were 6ft in length and a sub that i had in school today said he told our class that they were 4ft in body length and 5ft in leg length. I didn’t really believe that though so i went to google.com and looked up Camel spiders an i heard all of your comments and you who have went to Iraq i believe you mostly if you are telling the truth?
One time when i was at my grandparents house at the state border when he walks to his mail box he crosses the border. But anyway i was around his dried up ditch because he didn’t have it running for a few days and i was flipping rocks to see what was under then and it was the first one i flipped and there was a 2″ scorpion, ant, and spider looking thing. I ran and looked for an empty jar and i found a hug kind of pickle jar so i said it works then ran back where the spider was under the fliped rock.
I bet it was looking for shade and it was still there it was all skrunched up and i just picked it up like how people pick up taranchulas. And never went on the web to find out until now and i still have it and i found it about in the year 2003 now it is about 4 and a half inches long i hold it and every thing. I feed it crickets and other bugs its size that wouldn’t hurt or kill it i made it a big forest kind of place for it in a big fish tank.
When it is hungry it goes to the highest point it can and tries to climb. I put a cricket and i either toss it in the cage and it jumps just like a jumping spider and wraps around it and bites it to death. or i hold the cricket in between my thumb and pointer finger.Then it would jump and do the same thing but it would fall but it doesn’t care. but that is my true story it hasn’t had any babies yet i wonder why.
If any one would like to tell me more PLEASE do!!!
Thanks!
That Camel Spider is soooo nasty!!!
i think you people are crazy if you want a camel spider for a nasty freaky looking pet. I hope all the soldiers kill them if they see one……. i would :(~ i wouldn’t even take a picture of it…
Medy it actually injects you with something that makes you numb and you wouldn’t even feel it. Imagine that you are sleeping in a tent and you wake up with some body part missing… that is soo sick!
After it bites you you wouldn’t feel it feeding on you….. scary to even think about it.
I live in Alaska, and i don’t really think there are any camel spiders around here because it get pretty cold in the winter… but then again i hope there are none….
Sometimes my cousin would go outside and smoke and there would be spider webs above the window and a spider is near by somewhere and it would be dark outside and moths flying around near the light, he would catch one and throw it on the web and watch the spider bite it or what ever it is doing. then it would role it up and put it off to the side and go back and fix its web…. he would keep catching moths and throwing it in the web….I’ve seen him do that a couple of times and it was soo nasty! he would take pictures of it roling the moth up, but then his wife would delete them…. that was almost a year ago so i don’t know if he still feeds his little friends….well he called them his friends…
Well thats it to it.
i think spiders r not that scary but i hate the little ugly fuzzy things but camel spiders i just got out of iraq and they aint all that bad well when u have a gun anyway but other than that they try to eat just about everything
DUUDE, i want/need one of these camel spiders, it would make an awesome pet to have just roaming in my house, i also think it would be funny to watch it mess with my cats!!! (jk on the cat thing) let me know if they start selling them
I think they’re kind of cute. But of course I wouldn’t sleep with one!!
the camel spider is so awesome i would love to have one to scare my self!
These spiders are REALLY CREEPY-LOOKING! who in their right mind would want a pet that could bite you and suck your muscle liquid? your kids? spouse? medy has the right idea; scream bloody murder and call the nearest exterminator!! By the way, Camel Spiders don’t live in Florida, do they?
yeah cool till it breaks out of the cage and bites your face off
As mentioned in the article, this is not actually technically a spider. It is an arachnid, like spiders and scorpions, but it is NOT a spider! Note the ten legs and the pair of distinctly large chelicerae (the pudgy things that look like mini-legs between their front legs). Spiders have eight legs and (generally) smaller chelicerae.
Also, they do not create a numbing anything! Nor will they eat your face. They won’t even try to attack you unless they feel you’re encroaching upon their territory or doing something equally perceived as threatening. With how odd this creature looks, it’s sometimes tempting to listen to myths. But the camel spider is just getting some bad press. Check into things before making such wild claims. The closest thing to anything these myths have claimed is a study done in India that said that ONE subspecies had venom causing paralysis in 7 of 10 lizards they test-injected, but that test has never been replicated, ergo it’s unreliable.
I lived in Colorado and found Camel Spiders there (Colorado Springs). From what I was told they came back in serviceman’s hold baggage from the middle east. The ones I found were only about an inch in length.
When I was in Desert Storm they were all over the screen of our GP med. Some one caught one and it was about 3in long.
I thought I was the only one that had seen that spider. I thought it was from outer space and I tried to explain the thing to friends but they couldn’t imagine. I wondered for years what that thing was and now I know it was a camel spider. I was in valley center, CA. when I found it.
camel spider are the radest spider on earth the are all most the biggest spider on earth
I was just looking up spiders and I saw the camel spider and I flipped out!
Hi Raegan, you are right about the camel spider, they are pretty cool and I would like to know if they actually have 10 legs as well.
That’s cool. I wouldn’t want one though. It just doesn’t seem natural for a spider to get that big! Yikes!!!
I think these spiders would be fun to research but I would not want one as a pet! Can they really have 10 legs?
Camel spiders are just freaky, my dad had a picture he took with one when he went into the army in Iraq and even he was scared!
thats so cool!!!!!!!!!!!!
You people who want 1 of these spiders must be mental! My friend was in Iraq and he caught some of these spiders and brought them back to England for research he now owns the biggest camel spider farm in England and now has them for sale.
He has only ever had 1 bad experience with these spider 1 actually escaped and he thought it wouldn’t stay around the farm but he was wrong this spider came from the outhouse to his home and caused devastation.
He was in his daily routine checking the spiders and then he went home to go to bed. When he awoke there was blood all over the bed he thought he was dreaming but when he looked down at his leg the spider was still eating away his leg. It injected a numbing agent into the leg and a large section of his leg was missing skin. He rang the ambulance and they came straight away. They ended up having to remove his entire foot!
those things are so ugly and scary
okay so im terrified of spiders i showed this site to my brother and he nearly cried cause it freaked him out so much and nows he is having nightmares so these things are really scary. ugggg there also really gross looking. =( =(
My word! Why would our creator deisgn something so gigantic and ugly?
I did 9 and half months in Bahrain with the Army. These spiders are as big as in the picture. They eat human flesh. They first bite you to numb the area, then after a time they can munch away and you will not feel it. One of my friends went for a shave in the morning, and saw his bottom lip was missing. Another had a big hole in his cheek.
Ewwwwwww! Are those camel spiders really that big? Like that one picture where there are like 2 of them? I have arachnaphobia and it just freaks me out to see spiders THAT huge! I feel like screaming right now!
wow theese spiders r moohoosive
i wonder how big the lagest spider is recorded?
the camel spider is one of the largest spiders that i have ever seen.
it is really actually scary in my opinion.
i was wondering though can they kill you if they bite you?
I’ve been trying to find info on these things for years. I think I can share some with you. These things live in many deserts accross the world actually, including the the american southwest. And many of you might be diappointed (or relieved) to know that they are very hard to keep alive outside a desert environment. They are also known as sun spiders, wind spiders and jerrymanders. And yes, I, wish I could have one too. And they are only dangerous to critters up to twice their size.
Do Camel spiders scream? How loud?
Geez, the only thing people think of are war, money and shooting harmless animals like the camel spider? Why are you so aggressive?
Thank God i live in Holland, we are all peaceful here.
those spiders are super scary.id b scard 2 death if i saw 1 in my house
Okay my 18 year old daughter brought a Camel Spider home from work the other day (She works at a grocery store). Well, after listening to the horror stories from coworkers and my family I decided that maybe it would be a good idea to do some research of my own. Not to mention my daughter was quite perplexed on where to find some cow stomach to feed the spider. I am so glad that this information was here because not only can I put my mind at ease….I’d much rather go to the pet store and buy a dozen crickets for the spider to eat. Just to see how big it will get.
when my uncle was in iraq(usmc), he had gone to the latrine and came back to get something…he opened his tent to find a camal spider!!!!
he got in trouble for shooting a native animal. hes seen people who got bitten. i think its funny that he got in trouble.
My boyfriend found one of these ugly things crawling across his foot . We live in Northern Colorado, I didn’t think that we could get them but I swear it’s the same spider. I trapped it and took a picture but my camera-phone quality sucks. I took it to my leasing office and asked them to spray my apartment. Any other suggestions to get rid of these camel spiders? I clean daily!
Yeah hahaha camel spiders don’t jump they don’t scream largest one is 6 inches maybe and they may run up to 10-15 mph… all of what yall are sayin is inorrect.
They are shade lovers and will chase your tracks and your shade not you. Humans encounter them because they hate sun but at night like to come out and love the light so in the desert areas you may find them in tents or around fire places.
First things things first, ‘camel spiders’ are not actually spiders, they are only distant cousins. The name camel spider probably comes from stories from service members starting wild rumors. They do not attack camels and eat out their stomachs. They are not poisonous, although they can inflict a pretty painful bite. The only danger is from the bite site becoming infected if not cleaned properly.
Most are less than one inch long. I was stationed in Iraq for a year, and in Saudi Arabia for Desert Storm and the largest I saw was about two inches long. We have smaller ones in the U.S. They will eat just about anything that is smaller than they are. I have also caught a couple in California and kept them as pets. I fed them other insects that I caught. They are very fast and will startle an unsuspecting person quite easily as they are almost alien looking. And yes, they are great to have if you want to scare the hell out of family and friends!
My friend was in Iraq for about 1 and half, he said he only seen maybe 3 the whole time. He said they live outside towns in the desert. They don’t go looking to bit people, they stay away from people at most costs. Yes like most all animals, sometime, someone gets bit. Things happen, some those people in the army actually have camel spiders as pets.
it gives the marines something to shoot at at least.
those spiders are the coolest thing on earth. I would love to have one in my room so I can scare my family and friends
My grandson was bitten by something not sure what it is, perhaps a camel spider? It started out reddish in color with what looked like a pimple in the middle. Next day was growing in size. My son and I tried to touch it for an hour and he would not let us. Finally we were able to tackle him down and after pulling the small scab off he squeezed the bump by now was size of nickle. Out come pus that was brownish in color, there was a lot more than just a normal pimple type bite. This was within a day and a half of noticing the spot. After popping it does look better now. My son and I are not sure what it is but he has been in Iraq and the boy was playing in the house on base.
But how long is it as a cm?
wow, those spiders are the strangest things i have ever saw they look sooo scary!! i have watched the spider bite thing which i had to turn away from as it was too distgusting ehhhh my dad even made a joke on buying some no way i have a huge phobia of even the little money spiders never mind them big things!!;)
My dad is in the army and was deployed over seas. He just got home and unloaded his stuff. About 2 days ago my sister was screaming and crying saying there was a huge spider crawling around in the kitchen. She described a camel spider and so I’m freaking out because I have a smallish bite about my butt. I’ve had it for about 5 days now and wondering if anyone know’s how long the bite lasts?
My mom has has been looking around the house for the spider but hasn’t found it. I asked my sister to draw the spider and it looks just like the pictures i’ve seen here. its actually very frightening looking at the picture shes drawn and comparing. Does anyone know how hairy they are? she said that it was kind of hairy. i’m very scared and afraid to walk around my house especially since i’m extremely afraid of spiders.
I live in north east united states. Could some one send me a camel spider bite? i’m not sure if the pictures here are from the smaller spiders or the larger? is there a difference? some one pleaseee message me back i need to know or i’m probably not going to sleep for a longgg time.
Hey i wrote a comment June 16th (comment #47) about me finding one in West Texas…….well i just killed another one in my office again. The two I have killed were already dying because we have an exterminator come and spray for scorpion, roaches, mice, ect. so if you have a problem with them in you house i would definitly call the Orkin man asap.
Hey, I really want to buy a camel spider so if anyone has one or knows where I can buy one, please let me know and we’ll arrange something!
Whether or not camel spiders are poisonous, they are huge. If you want one for a pet you are not thinking right. Especially if you have cats and dogs, one of those dang things will eat your smaller house hold pets. Owning such a spider would only scare your family and yourself when the thing escapes from its cage.
If I ever see one of those camel spiders, I will shoot it with my 12 gauge and a couple of buck shot shells, maybe even slugs. I don’t want any of those things anywhere around the US!
I just caught a camel spider with a bug vac. It came running in to the dinning room right at my wife. I was lying on the couch as my wife was on the computer. I got up and sid to her ‘I need you to get out of the chair’, then she goes to get out and the thing runs underneath her. So I say wait, now I need to you to lift up your feet and keep them there. Of coarse she is freaking out the whole time. Thank goodness for Black and decker’s cordless dust buster.
To all the spider lovers saying that you want to have a pet spider: you have no idea what you are in for, especially if the bloody thing escapes!! The only good spider is a dead spider (under my shoe).
It’s all very nice talking about the myths surrounding these camel spiders, but they are not really dangerous or aggressive. I am from Holland and live in South of Turkey for most of the summer at appr. 600 meters high in the mountains and encouter these beasties on a regular basis.
A camel spider looks pretty scary I know, but they will eat all those other annoying insects for me ! Love ’em. Biggest I’ve ever seen was appr. 2.5 inches long. The photo with the big killer spiders is a complete hoaxe and is really just two spiders attached.
My husband and I live in BEND, OR and we found a camel spider in our house. Is that possible and if so where did it come from??????
Thanks for the help 😀
To those of you who would like to keep a camel spider, you are crazy! Who in the world would want to keep a foot long spider in their house? If i saw one I would beat the living crap out of it with a baseball bat!
We get a lot of camel spiders out here and they really to scare us! They are usually not as big as the picture you have but they are fast and having one walk across you is a frightful experience. I will send some pictures of these guys soon.
I’m afraid of Spiders and hope I never run into a camel spider!
I live in Northeastern Colorado and we found a Camel Spider today in my brother’s family room. It was maybe 1-1 1/2 inches long. My nephew’s going to keep it as a pet and see how big it gets.
My boyfriend went to put his shirt on the other day and a camel spider came out of it. We live on the central coast of California. I didn’t realize they were in this area…
Sending a camel spider from Iraq can’t be legal.
i found one in my living room this weekend. It looks like a fake rubber spider. Didn’t know they can be found in Israel…
Pinny
I actually study zoology and these spiders are part of my course. They are incredibly interesting. You can find them in many parts of South Africa and saw plenty of them in Sudwana. They come out at night to hunt, so seeing them all over the show on your way to the bathroom in a campsite is freaky yet common. They are beautiful creatures and since I’ve studied them closely, I actually like them. Although a bite could be pretty nasty.
My husband and I have been in the military for almost 13 years. These spiders are not something the miltary uses to scare people as I have read on here. They are real, they are big, and very gross. We have recently found 6 in our home in S.E. Wyoming and we are wondering why they are here. Are they taking over the planet? What’s going on. Does anyone know if they can tolerate the cold or can adapt? Where can we find out more info?
This web page is great. I found one in my daughter’s bedroom. I had no idea what kind it was or if it was dangerous. We live in central Wyoming. What are they doing here? They are creepy! Thanks again for the info.
Hey these camel spiders look cool but they also scare me…. LOL!!!
I have them in my back yard with wolf spiders, crab spiders and other and many others.
I’m here in Las Vegas, NV and have several of these running rampant in our house. The camel spider seems to like the Garage and the Patio equally well and we have noticed that they are extremely aggressive.
Does anyone know any reason why we’re getting sooo many of these. We’ve been here for years and this is our first time running across them.
We have one as a pet. his name is Murry and he eats just about every thing we put in the cage (moths, beatles) he digs under a slate rock which is on top of sand and comes out at night.
This site is great!! I finally identified the camelspiders I kept finding about 2 years ago. Up here in No. Calif, they are only about 1″ to 1 1/2″ long, but they are pretty fierce with those big black pinchers and they run FAST. Once I knew they were harmless, and actually eat bad bugs, I left them alone. I had just figured out on the internet what they were, and everyone thought I was nuts, and then that Nat. Geographic article came out. Bug Girl was vindicated!
i have just viewed this web page and let me say i am going to be having nightmares for a long time
EWWW – I hate spiders and I hate looking at them. I hate everything about them and I think there just gross!
I see that some of you like to have them as pets, but think of it, some times your pet get loose in your room and you have to look for it. So imagine you are sleeping, and that so called pet gets loose at night, comes and crawls all up on your neck and bites you.
But you know what, when it bites, it injects you with a soothing substance that makes it numb for the period of time that it’s needed for your muscle to break down into a mush. That pet of yours, will suck on that degenerated muscle until it is full, or someone else sees it, and kills it. Now comes the good part, Camel-Spider lovers, that pet of yours injected you with a substance that actually eats at your skin and dissolves into mush. Your doctor has to carve at lease an inch or more to stop the progress of your destructive muscle. At last, you will be left with a gapping hole that is if it did not damage your aorta and you die in the process. But, if you are the lucky one that gets it on the arm or leg, you will have a big gapping hole close to your bone.
For your information, think of your kids, brothers or sisters, what you get them for pets.
As for me, I will scream bloody murder if I see one, and that is what I heard from some fellow Marines that have deployed to Iraq.
You can also find them in South Texas as well. They come out to feed on moths and other night insects on my porch at night. They have a voracious and it would be quite a chore to maintain one. If cornered (or poked with a stick) they will rear up in defence mode ready to bite. I usually see them from spring through summer. Just looking at these things makes my skin crawl!
Hey i live in west texas and in just killed a camel spider yesterday. It was only about 3″ long. If you live in west texas, they’re here!
Update:
Well, it’s now a week later and I just killed another one in my office again. The two I have killed were already dying because we have an exterminator come and spray for scorpion, roaches, mice, ect. so if you have a problem with them in you house i would definitly call the exterminator asap!
I am living In Mirpurkhas Sindh Pakistan near the second largest desert of the world THAR DESERT. I have hunted few camel spider and available for sale.
i had one of these things crawl onto my boot and i just sort of kicked and it flew against the wall. i think i broke one of its legs because it just sort of hobbled off into a corner. i tried to find it but i couldnt.
These camel spiders are awesome and I want one as a pet!
that is flippen sweet! Now i’m going to have nightmares! To your benafit i’m going 2 tell every 1 about this site!!
I found a 2″ Wind Scorpion (Camel Spider) in the Northern San Joaquin Valley, California. It was in the entryway by the spot where we leave our shoes. It was about 11:45 AM. Creepy…I don’t want these guys in my house! I have little kids that pick up everything!!!I did not know they are way up here. Where is my exterminator!!!!
I want a camel spider so i can scare my family and friends.
I’m in Northern Iraq right now and the Camel Spiders are just starting to come out (about 2 weeks now). We’ve caught a few and the biggest would have to be about 5 inches, including its legs. We fed it lizards (it’s gross to watch these things eat) until the sack in the back (I don’t know what it’s called) became too big for it to move itself. So I guess it’s possible for them to eat themselves to death?
We fought another one about the same size with all kinds of animals. It definitely won against scorpions, and conquered other Camel Spiders too. However, we set it up against a Kangaroo mouse (very cute animal), and the mouse went to town on it. It hopped on the spider’s back and immediately tore off the top two pincers. After that, it tore off part of one of the legs. At that point, the spider was trying to run from the mouse, but it had no chance. It’s definitely not a sprinter like some others claim. The fight lasted about 35 seconds from releasing the two on the table.
Well, I have a few more stories for you guys if you want, so just let me know if you want to hear them.
—Dustin
i am currently in iraq and let me tell you these camel spiders are scary as hell and i really don’t want to find out if they are harmless or not. I killed two just yesterday, one of which was crawling on my foot as was looking into a box. I’ve seen about six of them this past week, the largest being about 5 inches long.
I want to see some more of these spiders fight that would be just AWESOME!!!!!!!!!
what does it look like when you grt bit my a camel spider
I think camal spipers are awsome my brother who is a marine is in iraq and he uses them for shooting practice
Hello John,
Where were you bitten by the Camel Spider, in the face? Can you take a picture and post it?
Regards,
Jim.
I am in baghdad and I got bit by the camel spider and now it is affecting my speech badly and now i am very scared of what and how it is going to affect me in the future.
Please, if anyone out there knows of anything about it let me know.
Thanks so very much.
i spend two years searching in books to learn about these little creatures i found in a country house i bought at 2005.The place is called S.George in mount Pelion in central Greece. Its about 620 m. high and the climate is not tropical like i read that the camel spiders live. They appearing about early June,untill the end of September.Every summer night i kill one or two of them because i didnt know how dangerous they were,and because my kids were frightened. I was very lucky when the first days of May i found a magazine of National Geographic from July 2004 ,that had an article about wind scorpions.
Read up on Camel Spiders! I have served for 19 years in the military and deployed 7 times to the Middle East during my career; in fact I just returned from Iraq two weeks ago. Read the comments by Will in this forum. The infamous picture you see here and floating all over the web (no pun intended) is an illusion! The largest they get is about 7 inches. Still, yes, that’s pretty freaking big but the ‘average’ North American Tarantula can grow to twice the size of any camel spider and the largest spiders in the world live in South America and grow to the size of dinner plates!
I’m in Algeria near Hasse Masoud. An electrician was in my porta camp discussing the next week’s work and left to enter the coffe room about 20ft away. As he entered, someone yelled, “it’s on your shoulder” (Camel Spider). He is an Aussi so he threw his cup of water on his shoulder tho’ he saw nothing. The camel spider ran to the other shoulder where he saw it and flipped it into the air. It did a flip or two and landed in the boiling coffee water.
The spider was about 3″ long. I was glad to clear up the urban myths above so I can sleep again!
We had camel spiders in Eritrea/Ethopia when we were over there but noting compared to those ones in Iraq. They long really scary.
I’ve spent time in Iraq dealing with much of the wildlife (if any) this place has to offer. I’ve seen one man that has been bitten by a Camel Spider. It was about the same if he had been stuck with a staplegun, no poison either. The Camel Spider is nothing more than a great way to scare your friends.
Well, I can’t sell you one, but I can send you a live wild one straight from Iraq, if you like. I have gotten very close to many in the last few days. The most recent, was also the most aggressive. I was taking out the trash from the RDF I work in (Regional Detention Facility) and to get to the dumpsters, there’s a huge metal door you have to swing open to go out. On the door/gate is a large lock that bangs around when you try to open it.
What happened next, I didn’t even believe. I heard a scratching behind me a few meters away, and from underneath a water pallet it came. It was about the size of my hand, its body alone, and headed in a straight line towards me. Is moved so fast it covered 30 ft in about two seconds flat. I turned to startle it, I guess, only to find it pick up speed! I stomped at it and of course it moved. It just sat there for a second until I tried to stomp on it again. Then it simply turned around and headed back towards the pallet.
I stomped one last time in front of it, trying to divert its course to capture it. It jumped onto my ankle and ran up my leg. I didn’t even notice it was on me until it was at my knee cap. I swatted it down to the ground, where it proceeded to veer its front two legs upward at me and kinda starred at me. I caught it in an empty water bottle and got rid of it later. So far, the other marines and myself have found the spiders do follow your shadows and may attack. Nothing to be scared of, but do take precautions.
Also, the easiest way to get kill them is to step on them or smash them with something. Water doesn’t effect them like rumors say, unless you use an abundance. Also, don’t try lighting them on fire to kill them (we found out the extremely hard way) simply because you will have a running fireball on your hands then.
If there is any other questions or requests for pictures, find me on yahoo or yahooim.
tj long
lcpl usmc
howdy. im lcpl long and im currently stationed in al asad air force base in iraq and i have had many encounters with camel spiders. i have had to find out some things about these spiders the hard way, but i have found out many of the things posted on this page. i would love to tell stories or give info if you just let me know when and/or to who. just email me and i’ll get to you as soon as i can. i can even get you your own if you like 🙂
I believe they are legal, but not 100% positive. I have been looking to buy a camel spider for a long time now and have yet had someone who is interested in selling.
If you find out anything, please let me know – perhaps we could get a two for one special on these 🙂
Best regards,
Jim.
Think Camel Spiders are just incredible, and this site is a mine of information. Does anyone know if they are legal as pets? Where could you get them from if they were?
Wow! I hate those camel spiders, they look scary!
Im in iraq and i have one in my house for a pet. kind of keeps the varments down 🙂
Well , I have a farm with a nice house that attracts many camel spiders.
Last night I smashed two of the camel spiders ( 2 inch each) I know them well, since I served in Iraq for two years 03-05
If you ( the reader) want to have one of them ! sure we can arrange something!
Just let me know
hey jim, I have a camel spider that my son just found crawling on the ground on my front porch, and we don’t live in Iraq. We live in the U.S. Email me soon because I dont think i will hold on to it too long. It is gross and scary.
Okay
talk to u soon
Dude these camel spiders R awsome
I realy want to go to iraq and im only 14
I want to shoot one for target practice
REALLY REALLY REALLY BAD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I want to buy a broadsword, go out to the desert, and battle camel spiders.
I am arachniphobic and still i want one of these spiders!
I am in the military guys and let me tell you, these things are fake.
Its like a military prank to tell people horrifying stories about these things, but in actuality they arent that big. The largest they get is 6 inches and they wont just randomly chase you down and bite you.
If you do some research and look for the FULL photo that is shown above, you’ll see that it is an illusion. The 1SG in the pic is holding 2 six inch camel spiders on a string close to the camera lens. When you cut out the guys photo who is actually holding them, you’ll see its just an illusion and actually the spiders arent anywhere near the soldiers leg or near that size.
coolest spider iv ever seen
Those of you who still believe the myths, please, go back to hunting for alligators in New York’s sewers. Camel spiders just got a bad reputation. How many people are bitten by dogs and cats every day? Now, how many are bitten by camel spiders? Logically, we should be terrified of dogs, who kill people, especially young children, rather than an insect that can give you a painful, but relatively minor bite.
i went to egypt and my boy friend got bit by a camel spider when we where on the quod bikes goning thought the desert it was horribull they run so fast ;(
I want one so bad!!!!!!!!!! those things are awesome. I’d name mine Buck!!!
to the guys that think that camel spiders are cool, doods rock on. i mean who wouldn’t want to see a spider that big, i mean that would be flippin amazing man. i wan’t one too, i think it would be a cool pet
Hi Kate,
Can you do me and the readers here a big favor? Can you send me a camel spider? Perhaps you might find a dead camel spider that you could send off? I would be willing to pay you for this, so please let me know if this sounds interesting and we’ll go from there.
Best regards and stay safe!
Jim
I’m going to Kuwait in 2 weeks and have been looking into these things, as my brother, who’s in the Nat’l Guard, told me all kinds of horror stories about them. Mostly though, he said the troops would catch them and make them fight each other or a scorpion or something, like in the movie Jarhead. I just hope one doesn’t decide to hide out in my boots or anything…
My older brother is in the Army and he goes to Iraq in early summer. He told me that he was more fearful of these spiders than of I.E.D’s, Roadside Bombs…etc. I am trying to find information to calm him down a bit. Although you are making them sound harmless, I would hate to have a spider the size of my foot chasing my shadow around in the desert.
I am doing a report on the camel spider and i think they are flipping sweet! i still am terrified of spiders though! 😀
Corey,ur CRAZY!
Why would ANY of u want to have one of these camel spiders as a pet???? One of the MYTHS might be TRUE!!
Joe is right!
i love camel spiders there so awsome i want one so bad
I want one as a pet. They look cuddly
eww..camel spiders are disgusting!! I feel so bad for the men and women fighting for freedom, not only putting up with people shooting at them..but with these spiders too! God bless the troops!
I live in Las Vegas, My cat found a camel spider!
I did some reading about these things after receiving a “OMG” email about camel spiders… ok, so they don’t run screaming for your blood… the truth is plenty freaky enough.
Although the camel spider can be very large, they are not as dangerous as some would have you believe. In fact, the camel spider has been and is being used to scare the troops by playing on a persons fear of spiders, and the camel spider is big enough to do just that!
Stories are released on the web with pictures of huge gaping wounds from the camel spider’s bite. It’s a pretty successful ploy and plays on a person’s fear of spiders, so successful that some will do anything to avoid coming in contact with one.
Camel Spider bites if treated shortly after being bitten will not cause the damage you see from pictures found on the internet. The fact is, almost any bite, left untreated could become infected and do damage, the key is to seek treatment as soon as possible.
So, the next time you see pictures of the camel spider and the bites from these spiders, stop and ask yourself where you’re viewing the picture from? If it’s from a hospital or university, then take the time to read the article and you’ll likely see that is wasn’t a camel spider and more likely a spider bite that went untreated for far too long.