WHAT IS THIS???
August 1, 2009
I found this in my bathroom, alone, no other bugs near it. It was walking alone along the floor. It is terrifying, giant, and pure evil. It has jaws that could rip a man in two. ( the whole bug is just over an inch long)
Addison P.
Colorado Springs, Colorado

Solpugid

Hi Addison,
Luckily, you are too large to be considered prey for the Solpugid which is perfectly harmless to humans as it contains no venom.  The same claim cannot be made to creatures small enough to be consumed.  Here is Charles Hogue’s vivid description of the feeding habits of a Solpugid as quoted from his awesome book, Insects of the Los Angeles Basin:  “All of our species are nocturnal, wandering by night in search of the small invertebrate animals that are their prey.  They are extremely voracious carnivores and crush and tear captive organisms to shreds with their huge jaws.”  You need not fear your home being invaded by cockroaches if you allow the Solpugid to prowl around at night.  Solpugids are commonly called Sun Spiders or Wind Scorpions, and species from the Middle East, which are considerably larger than our North American species, are called Camel Spiders.  There is much misinformation online regarding Camel Spiders.  Somewhere, buried in our archives, we even have the notorious image that was making internet rounds many years ago.

Hyper-agressive “Jaws”
July 29, 2009
I believe this is a “Sunspider” which is actually not a spider at all. What struck me was how aggressive they are. This one chased me around the garage, literally, and once under a cup, ran at my finger or my camera for ~30 minutes. He’s have bit me at least 1000x if I’d let him out. The last photo (3011) is him lunging at my finger (dark spot at top of photo). Angry little bug.
Todd in AZ
NE Scottsdale, AZ, USA

Sun Spider

Thanks for sending in your awesome images Todd.  Solpugids or Sun Spiders are very adept and aggressive hunters, but thankfully, they do not have venom so they will not harm you.  We cannot recall ever getting a report of anyone who has even been bitten, though your photos indicate that could be a possibility.  We still maintain that they are harmless but aggressive hunters who will do far more good alive eating cockroaches and other unwanted annoyances in the home than they will dead.

Sun Spider

What is THIS bug?
July 18, 2009
I killed this bug (sorry, I was afraid!) in my garage tonight and was so creeped out I’ve got the heebie-jeebies! I have no idea what it is, can you please tell me? It has large jaws and is appx 3/4 to one inch long.
Creeped out in Colorado
Foothills of the Rocky Mts. in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Solpugid dead from unknown causes

Dear Creeped Out,
This harmless Solpugid looks like its final moments were horrific.  Solpugids are fierce predators, but they have no venom and will not harm humans.  Cockroaches and other undesirable household intruders are common prey for this formidable hunter.

Update:  NASTY READER AWARD
After we supplied Creeped Out with the above answer, Creeped Out had the wherewithal to submit the following tirade.  Seems Creeped Out didn’t read the release on our form which gives us the right to post images and letters to the website and to use them in other authorized What’s That Bug publications.  Nowhere in our response did we libel (slander is uttered aloud, and thankfully we have never spoken to her) Creeped Out’s reputation, and we stand by our statement that the final moments of the Solpugid’s life were horrific.  We are very happy we don’t live in Colorado Springs as we might run into Creeped Out and her nasty temper by getting some cosmetic dental work done (info we gleaned from her email address which we will withhold from publication).  Just imagine the horror and potential pain if she ever took her wrath out on someone’s teeth?  Read on and see just how nasty some readers can get after getting free information on the internet.

That was a ridiculous way you used my submission. I would have never given you permission to use my submission if I had known what a wack-job you were. Need you be so melodramatic about a bug (which by the way there are trillions of?!) You do not have my permission to use anymore information of mine including this email! I will be sure not to recommend your site to any of my friends for fear you will slander them too on the web. Sorry I even ASKED you for help.
Creeped out in Colorado

A Reader Comments
Nasty Reader
I just have to comment on creeped out’s nasty email. The entire point of this website and the reason why so many of us bug lovers are so grateful for it is to educate those who may not appreciate the insect kingdom for the amazing necessity it is. Those who are so inclined to “squish” first and ask questions later may think twice had they had known that the poor little Solpugid wouldn’t have even been in their garage if it weren’t for a food source… like COCKROACHES. Whether “There are trillions of them” or not it is just as easy to remove them without killing them or actually be thankful for how beneficial they are. I believe the correct spelling is “whacked out”…AND people in glass houses….
Andrea, Hollywood.

Creeped Out Comments
Request for revision: Web site says “after we supplied the reader with the above answer”. Please revise that in your notes since you NEVER supplied me with that explanation.  You simply wrote two words “harmless solpugid” in an email and sent it to me. I had to go out on the web site to see the way you presented it and to see your full answer and then I still had to search the web to find out what a “solpugid” was. If you want to be accurate, please adjust your notes accordingly

Ed. Note
Creeped Out is correct.  Our original response to her was a brief two word answer which we sometimes do in an effort to answer as many requests as possible.  Then we spend more time crafting responses that we plan to post.  We do not feel sorry that after supplying a brief correct identification, the burden of further research was placed on the querant.

Creeped Out continues to write to us
It seems I am not the only one with a bad temper judging from your response. Your words were completely unnecessary and unrelated to bugs or your website. I apologized in my initial email to begin with and only became insulted by the way you presented my situation.
I apologize for killing the “solpugid” and I am sorry that I became angry. I didn’t think that this was the first photo of a dead bug you would have seen so I apologize for not being more sensitive to your passion.

Ed. Note:
For the record, we no longer email Creeped Out directly, as feel compelled to keep all lines of communication totally transparent and public.  Also, for the record, though we consider What’s That Bug? to be an insect identification website, we do not shy away from relating the insect world to the grander scheme of things.  We have maintained from Day 1 that we are not scientists, but artists, and as such, we reserve the right to dialog in whatever way we see fit and to not fear letting our freaky flag fly.

Another Reader Comments
Big nasty black thing
July 22, 2009
I was so intrigued by Creeped Out’s diatribe and backstory that I thought I’d let you know there are calm, reasonable people in Colorado as well. Also, I need a bug identified. I’m so sorry I don’t have a photo; I’m too scared of them, and I only see a couple a day. It doesn’t look anything like the photo attached, which I had to do for the form to work. They are 1 1/2″ or so long, black but iridescent (blue or green in sunlight), have a small middle section (thorax?) , very narrow “waist” and a long, skinny back end. They buzz when they fly. I’m scared because I thought I saw one flying away from biting my son; I just need to know how vigilant to be about them! If you can refer me to a lineup, I’m sure I could pick one out, and if I get a picture I’ll write again. Thanks for all you do!
For Heaven’s Sake Feel Free to Post This
western CO
Dear For Heaven’s Sake,
Thanks for your support regarding our latest Nasty Reader Award.  Your insects sound like some kind of wasp, perhaps a Cricket Hunter Wasp in the genus Chlorion, or a Blue Mud Wasp, Chalbion californicum, or some other Thread-Waisted Wasp in the family Sphecidae.  All of them may be viewed on BugGuide, but our money is on the Blue Mud Wasp.

Sun Spider
Mon, Apr 27, 2009 at 6:39 AM
Just thought I would tell you Thank you for your site !!
I found this in my son’s towel when i was getting him out of the bath, we caught it and looked it up on the comp. what it was. Thanks to you it’s back out side where it can kill other bug I dont want in the house .
Thank you,
Jennifer Beard
Odessa Tx.

Sun Spider

Hi Jennifer,
Years ago, when our website didn’t exist and What’s That Bug? was a column in a fledgling zine called American Homebody, people like you were our target audience.  We wanted to make homemakers more aware of the crawling creatures they would encounter around the house and to educate them to the beneficial natures of many of the creatures they might otherwise squash or exterminate.  We are happy your harmless, predatory Solpugid, AKA Sun Spider or Wind Scorpion, is now back in the wild.  Thanks for your letter.

Large Ant? with arms
Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 9:12 AM
Dear Bugman,
I have been searching the internet to figure out what this bug is, but can’t seem to figure out how to describe it. When I first saw it walking across the floor I thought it was a scorpion. (but obviously not from the photo) It is about an inch long with large body(?abdomen) and 10 appendages. The front two it seems to use to feel along the ground and when at rest it holds them up like claws in a defense-like stance, but I can’t see any pincers on the ends. It has a tear drop shaped head with a single spot on the top that looks like the only “eye” sort of spot on its head. It is also rather furry like a honey bee. I’d really appreciate it if you could tell me what it is and whether it is potentially harmful. I found it indoors in a hangar that was converted into office and lab space, so not well insulated/sealed and with lots of trees and undeveloped areas nearby.
Wondering in CO
Northern Colorado

Sun Spider

Hi Wondering,
This amazing creature is a Solpugid, also commonly called a Sun Spider or Wind Scorpion though it is neither a spider nor a scorpion. Solpugids do not possess venom, so they are harmless unless you are small enough to be prey. We believe Solpugids might well be the fiercest predators, gram per gram, on the planet.

what type of bug is this
Fri, Nov 7, 2008 at 8:12 PM
i was at the desert when i went to go into my pocket and some thing bit me. i took off my pants and this 8 leg big head and 4inch long can you please tell me what this bug is?
jeremy
desert southern californa

Solpugid

Hi Jeremy,
We have received numerous letters from the American Southwest over the years requesting the identification of Solpugids or Sun Spiders or Wind Scorpions or Sand Puppies. We have always said that they are harmless. Then images of related species from the Middle East known as Camel Spiders started circulating on the internet along with exaggerated accounts of their behavior. We still maintain that Solpugids in North America are harmless since they have no venom. They do have formidable jaws and they could bite, which is why we are posting your letter. Middle Eastern species are much larger and the bite is probably painful, but because of the absence of venom, it is still basically harmless. You didn’t really elaborate on the nature of your bite and we are curious if it was painful, broke the skin, or drew blood, or was it merely a noticeable nip?

the bite did not broke the skin but it felt like a pinch like someone pinch you really hard no blood just scaryed me.