Have you heard about these incredible, huge spiders that can scream while hunting humans – it seems too horrible to be true! Do camel spiders scream, or is it just an internet-created myth?
Camel spiders are an interesting species of arachnids found mostly in Middle East Asian desert countries.
In America, you might come across them in our own southwestern desert states like Texas and California. They are even present in some parts of Mexico.
They are called by several names, such as wind scorpions or sun spiders.
Many urban legends are attached to these creatures, but none is as famous as their purported ability to scream while chasing their prey!
To answer upfront, no, camel spiders do not scream. They may create certain sounds due to a technique called stridulation. Learn more in the article below.
Do Sun Spiders Scream?
Sun spiders, commonly known as camel spiders, look fearsome and intimidating at first glance. However, in reality, they are pretty harmless to human beings.
They are not true spiders, despite the name. They belong to the species of Solifugae order. The word itself means “those who hide from the sun” in Latin.
The myth is that camel spiders scream at people as they chase them. No species of camel spider does this!
Some may hiss, but not even a group of sun spiders can scream at you, and most likely, these spiders will never chase you, either.
Do They Make Any Sounds?
Both male and female camel spiders make buzzing or clicking sounds. Many people mistakenly believe these are screaming sounds because it can be disturbing to human ears.
However, the sound is made during stridulation, when they rub certain body parts together. This is exactly how crickets make their chirping noise.
In the case of camel spiders, they click their mouthparts, known as chelicerae, to make a buzzing sound.
They also use their mouths for mating and catching and tearing their prey, so it is advised to keep your distance from them.
Do They Chase Humans?
Many people mistakenly feel that camel spiders chase them to bite, which is untrue.
They are nocturnal animals who live in the middle-eastern deserts, and as such, it is rare for them to come across humans anyway.
They only come out at night to hunt but would chase the light if you hold its source in your hand or are close to it.
If you are out in the sun and a camel spider is chasing you, understand that they are trying to shun the sun. Yes, they only want to hide from the hot desert sun, nothing more!
They will move with you if you move, and they will imitate you when you stop and stand in one place.
What Do They Eat?
Camel spiders are unlike common spiders who weave webs all day and then sit back to watch their prey fall into their trap.
They are hunters, so they like to go out and grab their prey between their mouths. They are omnivores and can eat almost anything on the planet.
They can run as fast as 10 miles per hour, so they can easily catch lizards, insects, rodents, small birds, etc., anything they can find near them.
They use their mouthparts, known as chelicerae, to cut through the bones and squeeze the body of their prey.
Since it is difficult to find prey in the middle-eastern desert, many camel spiders keep fat stored in their body in case they starve for a long time.
Are They Dangerous?
Unless you are a lizard, insect, bird, rodent, or any creature that camel spider can bite into, you are safe from them.
They are also incapable of eating up a human or a camel, despite the myths. They cannot prey on species that are much larger than them.
While they are not lethal to human beings, they sure can put their mouth to use and give painful bites if threatened or disturbed.
However, the bites are not poisonous since they do not have venomous glands.
So, you will be fine, but if you are allergic to insect bites, you should seek medical help if these creatures bite you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any spiders that scream?
Spiders do not have vocal cords and, thus, cannot scream. They can make purring or hissing sounds to communicate with each other or threaten potential danger or predators.
They make these sounds through the process of stridulation, rubbing their chelicerae together, especially to seek out mates during the breeding season.
Do camel spiders bark?
The barking spiders, such as Queensland Whistling Tarantula, can make noises that seem close to barking but are not like a dog’s bark.
Like camel spiders, these creatures also create sounds through stridulation but are much louder. However, camel spiders cannot bark.
Can a camel spider hurt you?
A camel spider can only hurt you through its painful bite. They are not venomous.
So, unless you are allergic to insect bites, you will be fine though you may remain uncomfortable until the pain subsides.
What is the scariest spider?
The Black widow is the scariest spider in the United States. They kill their mates and even give painful bites to humans if disturbed or provoked.
They are also reported to be 15 times stronger than an average rattlesnake.
Wrap Up
The bottom line is that camel spiders may alarm you at first sight, but they are only coming after you because they need shelter from the sun. And no, they do not scream but rub their mouthparts through stridulation.
2 Comments. Leave new
I’ve lived in Hesperia, CA for 30 years now and just seen my first one of these. It bit me on the leg in fact, crawled right up my pant leg and bit me just above my sock… I’m glad to read that they are not poisonous, but 20 minutes later I can still feel the bite., it is a stinging pain that itches and burns a bit.
Found one of these guys hanging out near my 3 mth old puppies blanket. I am so relieved to read it has no venom that can harm him or the rest of my family. I live near the hills in the IE and have found all kinds of little creepy crawly things in my home.