We found this bug outside our house. It is about an inch long. Looks like it has 6 legs and 4 antenna...however, 2 of the antenna could be legs...but it doens't look like he/she walks on them. It also appears to have NO eyes. It's mouth looks like 4-prong beak. Two on the top, two on the bottom. It isn't a red as it looks in the pictures on the following web site...but is more brownish-tan with a darker brown "butt". It would be nice to know what this is...since it's sooo big and strange looking. Any help would be appreciated.
Pictures can be seen at: http://vyquinn.tripod.com/insect
2006-08-06 10:14:35 · 5 answers · asked by Vy 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Thank you all SO much! I agree with most of you about it being a "sun spider". Looks exactly like some of the pictures! I'm very grateful to know it's not poisonous either! I also agree that nothing that ugly needs to be poisonous! Thanks again everyone!
(And I'm not sure I can pick the best answer....so I'll leave it to a vote!)
2006-08-08 17:21:26 · update #1
This a Solifugid, a member of the arachnid group. They are really quick and effective predators. Sometimes called "sun spiders" "wind scorpions" or "Camel Spiders". Their jaw power is apparently quite strong, they typically feed on insects, but will also feed on scorpions, lizards, small snakes and other solifugids. That 4-prong beak is actually 2 pairs of good chompers. the act like sicsors to cut and mash up any unfortunate prey items that they catch.
They are not dangerous to people, but apparently can give quite a powerful bite, so dont handle it unless you absolutely have to! I havent been bitten by one yet, but I have raised some before for a desert display at an Insect house....really neat critters!
Here are some more pictures for you to look at.
Good Find!
http://bugguide.net/node/view/31707
http://bugguide.net/node/view/31602
http://bugguide.net/node/view/31706
I hope this answers your question!
2006-08-07 02:58:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I definitely agree that it's a sunspider (Order Solifugae). Like spiders, scorpions, daddy-long legs, and ticks, it's an arachnid, but it's very distinct from true spiders (Order Araneae).
There are only two families of sun spider found in North America, the Eremobatidae (http://www.solpugid.com/eremobatidae.htm) and the Ammotrechidae (http://www.solpugid.com/ammotrechidae.htm). The shape of the lines on the face are seem more consistent with Eremobatidae. Specifically it might be in the subfamily Eremobatinae (http://www.solpugid.com/eremobatinae.htm). Your picture is a very nice match for the animal on that page (genus Eremobates).
2006-08-08 00:17:16 · answer #2 · answered by aranae 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is this it ?
http://www.nmpest.com/images/Jsalpuged.JPG
http://mamba.bio.uci.edu/~pjbryant/biodiv/spiders/Solifugid.htm
Looks like a species of sun spider (order Solifugae) to me.
Generally not harmful. Something that ugly doesn't need poison!
2006-08-06 18:13:58 · answer #3 · answered by Jay T 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
From the picture it sure looks like a spider to me. Maybe some sort of tarantula.
2006-08-06 17:23:13 · answer #4 · answered by rscanner 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It looks like a Solpugid to me.
http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=Solpugid&fr=FP-tab-img-t-t500&toggle=1&cop=&ei=UTF-8
2006-08-06 17:40:18 · answer #5 · answered by Drew 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋