One Hump or Two? Camel Spiders

What is a camel spider?

1. An eight-legged dromedary
2. An arachnid with one or two humps
3. An arachnid that isn’t actually a spider but is called a camel spider because people believe they like to feast on the stomachs of camels.

While it is neither a camel nor a spider, the camel spider is an arachnid that was named because of the untrue myth that they eat camel stomachs.

Camel spiders have a number of other names including:

1. Wind Scorpion
2. Big Ugly Freaking Spider
3. Sun Spider
4. (insert scream sound here)

While camel spiders are also known as wind scorpions or sun spiders, I guarantee that if you come face to face with one, Big Ugly Freaking Spider and (scream sound) would be pretty darn accurate too.

Camel spiders measure from:

1. 3 to 6 millimeters long
2. 3 to 6 centimeters long
3. 3 to 6 inches long
4. 3 to 6 feet long

Let me first say that if there is a world where there are spiders that are 3 to 6 feet long, this bug blogger does not want to be on it. Camel spiders measure between 3 and 6 inches long which is horrifying enough. If you need a visual to really appreciate how big a camel spider can be, just pull out a dollar bill because they also measure 6 inches across. That is a big fat no for me.

Where are camel spiders found?

1. In icy regions where Eskimos keep them as pets and sources of heat
2. In tropical areas where they have an abundance of coconuts to feast on
3. In dry, hot, desert-like climates where they live on a steady diet of lizards, small birds, gerbils, beetles, snakes, and termites

Just like their camel namesake, camel spiders live in the hot deserts of the Middle East and Mexico, but they are also found in the southwestern United States. That’s right. They are also found in the good ol’ U. S. of A.

Camel spiders are known for chasing after humans and can run as fast as:

1. A cheetah
2. A camel
3. This bug blogger if someone is chasing her with a knife
4. None of the above

While they are nowhere near as fast as a cheetah or a camel, they can go up to 10 miles per hour, which means they are way faster than this bug blogger would be, even if someone were chasing her with a knife. Let’s all say a quick prayer that this bug blogger is never chased by anyone with a knife or by a camel spider. If you do find yourself with a camel spider hot on your tail, there is one thing you can take comfort in. That one and only thing is the fact that they aren’t chasing you to freak you out or take a bite out of your leg, they are simply seeking refuge in the shade that you offer.

What do camel spiders look like?

1. Eight-legged baby camels with tan and dark brown coloring and small hair covering their bodies to help insulate them from the desert heat
2. Four-legged spiders with tan and dark brown coloring and small hair covering their bodies help to insulate them from the desert heat
3. They are tan in color with a rounded, segmented abdomen that is darker brown. Their coloring helps them blend in with the surrounding environment. They have four pairs of legs and appendages, called pedipalps, that sense vibrations and allow for them to catch their prey. They have a big ol’ jaw, and their bodies are covered in short hairs that help insulate them from the desert heat.

While it might be less terrifying if camel spiders look like eight-legged baby camels, they unfortunately don’t, and the correct answer is (c). There is nothing cute or endearing about the camel spider and coming face to face with one is likely therapy-inducing.

What should you do if you happen to end up face to face with a camel spider or any other spiders that may have made their way into your home or on your property?

1. Run
2. Throw your shoe at it, and then run
3. Throw your shoe at it, run to your computer, and then login to HowToPest and place your order for professional grade anti-spider products

Since HowToPest.com has everything you could possibly need for all your spider needs, the answer is simple. Whether the spider that is staring at you is a camel spider, a black widow spider, a brown recluse spider, or any other spider – your one stop shop is HowToPest.com.