Why do camel spiders chase you

For many people, the camel spider is the stuff of nightmares, a creature straight out of a horror movie. However, while its appearance is certainly intimidating, the camel spider is also a greatly misunderstood animal, thanks mostly to myths that grew up during the Iraq war in Images swept the Internet showing camel spiders the size of children, while stories abounded of them chasing and devouring humans and other mammals, all of which are untrue.

Camel spider bite wound

Despite this, the camel spider remains a fascinating animal worthy of closer study, although much about them remains a mystery. The camel spider belongs to an order of arachnids known as solifugids but is not strictly a spider, despite its name. Instead, it sits somewhere between spiders and scorpions. There are believed to be over 1, species, known variously by names such as wind scorpions and sun spiders, which range in size from a few millimeters up to 16 cm for the largest species.

However, the vast majority remain unstudied, as they do not survive well in laboratories and are difficult to observe in the wild. Camel spiders are typically tan or dark brown in color, a form of camouflage to protect them from predators in the desert environments they inhabit. Their bodies are covered in fine hairs, which function as insulation to protect the spider from heat.

Camel spiders are found on all continents except Antarctica and Australia, favoring desert terrain, but also occur widely in semidesert and scrub in the southwestern United States , the Middle East , Mexico , South Africa , and elsewhere. Three species are even found in Canada, tolerating the cooler temperatures of British Columbia and Alberta.

They are nocturnal creatures, avoiding hunting during the day due to their aversion to excessive heat. Instead, they will hide under rocks or in underground burrows, being accomplished diggers. However, they will avoid prey items larger than themselves. These are also used to aid in movement, feeding, and fighting and are equipped with suction tips for grabbing prey.