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Solpugid question f/u — 2-image collage (large file)                         Inbox        X
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Denny Schreffler to me
show details 10:02 PM (5 hours ago)
June 14, 2010
Hi, Whatsthatbug,
As a follow up to a submittal from a couple of weeks ago regarding two distinct types of Solpugids here in southern Arizona (desert, about 3,000’) in which I offered the inexpert opinion that, “the critters which are stockier, have bigger heads, and shorter pedipalps could be in the Subfamily Eremobatinae (Family Eremobatidae) while the slimmer ones with longer palps could be in the Subfamily Therobatinae (same family),” I encountered both types last evening in the same place at the same time.
My recollection from seeing the much larger type (of which I saw only one) last summer was that it was as big as a small mouse — in fact, when I first saw it, I thought that it was a mouse — running on a wall.
The attached 2-image collage is closely representative of the size differential between the two types.  I first noticed the smaller one and was struck by the dark markings, especially the pedipalps.  When I tried to persuade him to move to a location that might be more photogenic, he skittered about two feet away and ran right into Monstro, who is as big as a mouse.
I’ve seen and photographed dozens of the smaller variety this (otherwise, so far, relatively bugless) summer so, in my neighborhood, the larger type is encountered much less frequently.
Any enlightenment from your readers or available experts would be appreciated.
Looking forward to the book!
Denny Schreffler
Southern Arizona
[personal non-post – Where in Ohio?  Have you ever been there for the 17-Year Cicadas?  I grew up in North Central Ohio where we’d have lots of cicadas for a little while every summer, and I experienced a 17-year eruption in Cincinnati in 1969 or ’70.]

Solpugid Comparison

Hi Denny,
You letter is the perfect letter to leave town right after posting.  We don’t have an answer regarding the taxonomy of the two Solpugids in question, and we cannot take the time to research this at the moment because we awoke early so that we can write a piece about fresh peaches and peach cobbler for our local Mt Washington Homeowners Alliance newsletter.  We can tell you that home in Ohio is a small city called Campbell which is just east of Youngstown and about 6 miles west of the Pennsylvania border.  We lived through the 17 Year Cicada population explosion of which you write.  At the age of 12 or 13, we golfed in a youth league and there were millions of Cicadas in the trees at Rolling Hills Golf Course.  The din was ear splitting.  We filled up the golf bag with Cicadas and brought them home because they didn’t emerge in nearby Campbell.

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