Camel Spiders

A wind spider, a sun spider or a wind scorpion, there're so many names for one creature widely known among the public as a camel spider. The reason for such a definition is just because they are found in desert regions, but it isn't actually a spider or a scorpion, it is a solifugae (the name derives from Latin, and means those that flee from the sun.) They live in various places all over the world, mainly in warm and arid.

Camel spiders first were found in the Middle East (Iraq) and also in sandy areas of the southwest United States and Mexico.

There are nearly 900 species which have been discovered so far.

A camel spider is usually seen during the spring and summer months because of the fact that they're afraid of cold weather.

They feed on insects, scorpions, or lizards and it's important to point out that they rarely hunt for prey, which is bigger than they are. They usually kill their victims with the help of chelicerae. Camel spiders often overeat so they become swollen and almost unable to move.

As for the characteristic of this species:

Camel Spiders are usually beige to brown in color, and they have very hairy legs and body. Males are usually smaller than females, with longer legs.

They have eight legs and use only three pairs of them. But it doesn't make any difficulties for them to develop a speed about 10 meters per hour; this is the maximum speed up to which they can move. A camel spider can be 5-6 inches in length. They are nocturnal creatures, so they hunt at night and look for the shade during the day.

Camel spiders are not dangerous for people. Rather often people mistaken, when they start thinking that spiders are hunting for them and even trying to kill them. Spiders will approach any shade if they have such an opportunity, including human shadows, and this gives the impression that they are following and even attacking humans, which obviously isn't true. Camel spiders just trying to hide from the sun.

Camel Spider Bite

They can bite only in case of self-defense, when they were disturbed and it's rather painful. Of course, it's necessary to consult a doctor immediately after being bitten by a camel spider, especially if the kind of a spider is unknown, but you should remember that they are not venomous and there's no chance of death directly caused by the bite, although there's a risk of infection.

Most of the pictures on internet which claim to show Camel Spiders bites are actually showing bites of other much more dangerous venomous spiders...

One more interesting fact, they are also known as screaming spiders because of their scream while running and people imagine that spider is screaming while chasing them.

Camel Spiders in Iraq

Different stories about these creatures began to spread during the 1990-1991 Gulf War. Now, this process continues existing as U.S. forces are still in the Middle East. And the camel spider stories are becoming legendary.

It was this behavior which led coalition soldiers in the 2003 invasion of Iraq to think these spiders were attacking them. In reality, they were merely moving toward the newly available shade provided by the soldiers' presence.

U.S. Army informed that the troops in Iraq have to deal with these creatures and a whole lot more.

Most of them are completely untrue. But sometimes a few photos are enough to cause panic attacks in people and make them believe in something terrible and really dangerous without even analyzing the information. Camel spiders usually are not dangerous but really horrifying; all these factors make people afraid of them. May be it is the main reason for occurring different rumors and myths.

We also have so many myths which the ancient people tell us on hearing them about the camel spiders. Few say that the sun spiders can jump to almost 4 feet in air or even more at times. Also few interesting myths say that these camel spiders are capable of eating the camel's stomach thereby could become huge in size also. In recent years, we also have so many controversial talks regarding this and we even have images being produced. Yet another name to the wind spiders is screaming spiders thus signifying its scream while running. Also they do not stay in holes which exist already but dig their own holes and live in it. Some common food of camel spiders includes other smaller insects, lizards or even scorpions. It is to be noted that once it consumes food, it bloats and stays still unable to move!

Want to know more about the screaming spiders?? Here we have all information right from the discovery of camel spiders to all the myths and humors which are associated with it!!!

While not as exotic as camel spiders, stink bugs can be quite a bother. And are quite frequent in the US.

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