Older Daughter described how she went out to her car the other day to drive to work. It was very early in the morning (maybe 5 am), and she was startled when something scurried away from her in the parking lot. She said it was about 2.5 inches long and looked like a large spider with huge front legs. She managed to snatch a photo.
I asked if it was a scorpion (this is before she sent the photo), and she said no. She said it was a camel spider.
"A camel spider!" I exclaimed. "I thought those were only found in the Middle East!"
It seems not. I looked it up, and by golly they're also found in North America, notably in drier and more desert-y areas.
And, unmistakably, it was a camel spider (also called a whip scorpion). These are arachnids, but not true spiders. Instead they belong to the order Solifugae, and there are many species spanning both the Old and the New Worlds.
Freaky-looking things, aren't they? However they're harmless to humans, can't climb or spin webs, and are beneficial to the ecosystem.
But yeah ... I never knew camel spiders were found in Idaho. Ya learn something new every day.
Oh they can climb just fine. I was camping near Prescott AZ and one climbed right up my leg UNDER my jeans. No bite, but very unsettling.
ReplyDeleteThey are all over south-central Idaho in the agriculture and desert areas. You rarely see them during the day, unless you disturb them; they often are under wood or in burrows in the ground. But once it is nighttime, if you go out with a flashlight you can see them everywhere. They however can climb, they often will be in our woodpiles or up on the deck hiding under something. They actually can bite/pinch you if you happen to touch them or step on them, but they will try to run away from you. They kill a lot of insects though, so very beneficial, but yes they are somewhat freaky looking.
ReplyDeleteWhat? Some sort of bug we don't have in Alabama? Praise God!
ReplyDeleteAs a Mister Rogers fan, I've always loved X the Owl's version of the saying - 'You learn something old every day'. I appreciate the different perspective because even though it's new to me, it's not new the world. It's a good reminder that ours is not the singular and penultimate viewpoint and it's always worth seeing things through someone else's eyes. You can learn so much!
ReplyDeleteLook like the vinegaroos in arizona.
ReplyDeleteLooks like the vinegaroos in Arizona
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