Afghan Solpugid
I found your site while looking up info on my favorite group of bugs that creep me out, solpugids. I found this one in my command post here in Afghanistan and it scared the crap out of me. Of all the things in Afghanistan to be scared of. Anyway, there are tons of them around here, here being in Laghman province at about 900 feet elevation. This one was pretty small, I think the body couldn’t have been more than an inch and a half long, but the legs make them look a lot bigger. Even small, though, they’re still pretty creepy looking. Thanks,
Jim, CPT USA 710TH BSB
Hi Jim,
Thanks so much for sending your image our way. In the past, we have posted several letters and images of Solpugids from the armed forces that have caused paranoia among our readers. It is refreshing to have your objective letter.
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Posted 28 April 2007
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unknown bug
Hi Mr Bugman,
An employee of ours in the Army Reserves was recently deployed to Iraq and sent this picture. I asked him what it was but he has not responded yet. Do you know?
Rhonda
Hi Rhonda,
The Solpugids or Sun Spiders in Iraq are commonly called Camel Spiders and there are many many myths circulating about them on the internet. Though they might bite, they are basically shy nocturnal predators that do not pose a threat to our troops.
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Posted 01 November 2006
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Solpugid
Well, once again you guys have ID’d the bug for me. I moved into a daylight basement earlier this summer and after doing my usual announcement to all bugs living in my apartment (“Hey, I’ll leave you alone if you leave me alone – if I find you on my person, you’re dead, but otherwise go about your business – unless you’re a black widow or a mosquito, then, ya gotta die.”) I’ve met plenty of new “friends” that I have id’d on your website and deposited outside (house centipede, wolf spider, etc.). My most recent find is the Solpugid on the attached photo. I actually first met him late Friday night/early Saturday morning on the floor of my bathroom (may I recommend against Limoncello/Tequila shots?). I was contemplating finally getting off the floor and into my bed, so I cracked an eye and shifted my weight and away ran one of the funkiest looking spider things I’d ever seen. I decided I no longer wished to share space with something so icky, so I went to bed. Monday evening, I was re-arranging pillows on my couch, and lo there was my spider friend. He held obligingly still for me, so I took his photo and looked on your website. I know you guys say he’s harmless to humans – but with pedipalps and chelicerae like that? Heebie Jeebie city. I popped him outside where he promptly ran into a hidey hole. I hope he stays there and eats lots of pest bugs. As usual I shared my new bug story with my friends. Here is my friend Josh’s reply after he checked out the Solpugid on the first page of your website: Ok, Mary? Uh, I don’t want you to think I don’t love you or anything. Because I totally do. It’s just that, well, I looked at the picture of your spider and…hoooo this is tough. Ok, I just don’t really think I can go inside of your house ever again. There, I said it…. Heh, weenie.
Mary
Reno, NV
Hi Mary,
If that weenie Josh can’t deal with a harmless Solpugid, just kick him to the curb and find some new friends that are your match in wit and courage. Also you should tell him that he might want to relocate away from Reno as chances are pretty good there are a dozen or so within 100 feet of him at this very moment.
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Posted 15 August 2006
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Found a Bug??? Need some help to identify.
Hello:
This bug was found in Dickinson North Dakota at our community center ( Pool, Workout area etc,). Many people come to work-out. Found it in June of this year. The bug is about an inch long maybe a little more, can move quickly, has two big fealer "arms’ in front that are alway moving, almost if it was or is blind. p.s. I no longer have the bug. Attached are two pictures Hope you can help identify the bug:
Eric
Hi Eric,
What awesome images of a Solpugid you have. We are convinced the close-up of the jaws will freak a few readers out. Solpugids are also called Sun Spiders or Wind Scorpions, and they are harmless unless you are a small arthropod.
Another Solpugid
(08/08/2006) Jaws of a Sun Spider
Bugman,
I just wanted to comment on how awesome that picture of the Sun Spider’s gaping jaws is! That had to be a really lucky shot! I also wanted to share two pictures of a Sun Spider I caught in my house (Phoenix area, AZ) the same day you posted those pictures. Hope you like them!
-Nick
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Posted 08 August 2006
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So… yeah, what’s this bug?
Found this thing walking around my basement and my friends and I have no idea what to think about it… I’m sure you know, so please inform! All I know about it is that it is a really poor climber and would not attack a beetle.
Thanks,
Jake
Hi Jake,
Your creature is an Arachnid known as a Solpugid, commonly called Wind Scorpions or Sun Spiders, though they are neither scorpions nor spiders. They have no venom, but powerful jaws and rip their prey apart. It is rumored they are excellent climbers, contrary to your observation. They are also aggressive hunters, contrary to your observations.
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Posted 19 June 2006
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I found this in the garage a few minutes ago, pretty large 2 – 3" in length.
Chris
Hi Chris,
This Arachnid is known as a Solpugid. It is related to spiders and scorpions and is not venomous.
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Posted 25 May 2006
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What is this ?
Hello,
Found it hanging on my wall on the sunset side at night in Scottsdale AZ. USA, Can you help me identify this thing ?
Thanks,
Mav
Hi Mav,
This is a Solpugid, also called a Wind Scorpion or a Sun Spider. They are non-venomous and harmless to humans, but they could give a painful bite.
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Posted 29 March 2006
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Unidentified scary bug – please help ID!
Hi Mr. Bug Man,
My name is Sara and my fiance recently found a weird and disturbing insect on the bathroom floor. When my fiance tried to coax the insect into a storage container with a pen the insect bit the tip of the pen and refused to let go. My fiance lifted the pen and was able to place the insect into the container while the insect remained attached to the pen. Although you can only see the upper 2 pinching mouthparts of the insect there are 2 more below the top two that move upward so the 4 parts come together to latch onto things like pens and other insects I imagine. We live in Leon, Guanajuato Mexico which is very arrid and located in the Sierra Madre mountain range. My fiance has lived here for 28 years and has never seen one of these insects here and we are hoping you can help us to identify this insect. We are very interested to find out if it is a larvae or adult, if it is dangerous at all and where it likes to live other than our bathroom so we can set it free as I´m sure it doesn´t like life in a tupperware container. Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you soon!
Sara Lerg
Hi Sara,
This is a Solpugid, also known as a Sun Spider or Wind Scorpion. It is not an insect, but an arachnid. They are not poisonous, so are harmless to people, though there could be a painful bite if provoked. Insects and other arthropods need to fear for their lives as Solpugids are fierce predators that use those formidible jaws to mangle prey.
Nice colorful bug, Spider
Hi Bugman,
I took a few pictures of bugs and an a spider in Guatemala. Can you identify them?
Greetings
David
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| Mesquite Bug |
Solpugid |
Hi David,
We got three photos from Arizona on June 21 last year of Thasus neocalifornicus, the Mesquite Bug in the Coreid Bug Family. We haven’t gotten another since. Your colorful bug looks nearly identical to the photos of the Mesquite Bugs we received last June. Insects do not respect international borders, and we believe you have photographed a Mesquite Bug, or a very close relative. Your spider is actually a Solpugid, known as a Sun Spider or Wind Scorpion. They are harmless.
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Posted 05 February 2006
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Arizona Bug
I found this little cridder in Yuma, Arizona. I have no idea what it is, but sure someone out there does. Very interested in knowing what it is. Sorry about the picture. I thought I had it resized.
Janet McQuaw
Hi Janet,
The poor dead Solpugid looks almost like it is sleeping. They are fierce predators, but harmless to humans.
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Posted 10 August 2005
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Strange bug found in Santa Fe NM
Hello there, I was just in Santa Fe and found this bug drowned in some water and can’t figure out what it is. It definently has ten legs, two pincher/fang things… I don’t know, here are some pictures if you could help me out, I’m very curious to know.
Thanks,
Melissa
Hi Melissa,
Your critter is a Solpugid.
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Posted 22 June 2005
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Really Freaky Thing
Hello again.
I didn’t have a photo the first time I emailed you last week and now I do, so I’m hoping you can help. We live in Sacramento, CA near a river. This creepy crawly was found in my bedroom…Yikes! I’ve had it in a jar for a few days, and it has eaten once. I fed it some kind of a grub worm and this guy inhaled it. Since then, I’ve tried other bugs but it’s not taking them. Can you help?
PS. You have a fascinating website. My family loves it. Thanks for you expertise.
Gayle
Hi Gayle,
You have a Solpugid for a pet. They are sometimes called Sun Spiders or Wind Scorpions, though they are neither. They are not venomous hence harmless to people,but they are vicious hunters, ripping their prey, small arthropods, to shreds.
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Posted 20 June 2005
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