Camel Spiders in Wyoming? - Ask Extension
I work at the VA in Sheridan and found this weird bug near one of the doors. I took some pictures and put the thing in a cup (wasn't dead, but wasn't ...
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Camel Spiders in Wyoming? #363468
Asked September 17, 2016, 4:45 PM EDT
I work at the VA in Sheridan and found this weird bug near one of the doors. I took some pictures and put the thing in a cup (wasn't dead, but wasn't moving much either). After some Google searching, I think it's a camel spider. Is that possible? If so, are they common? How big do they get around here?
Sheridan County Wyoming
Expert Response
Hello,
Arachnids from the Order Solifugae are actually pretty common in the drier parts of the state. Of course they are active at night and most people wouldn't notice them except to step on them. We have quite a few species. I have a live one in a container right now eating a miller moth. I have determined its Family and Subfamily but i will have to send it off to an expert at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science for a species ID. From the pincers in front to the end of the abdomen 3/4 to 1 inch is the biggest I have seen in Wyoming. They are NOT venomous and can only pinch if you handle them. Here is great web site with more information on them http://bugguide.net/node/view/7570/bgpage
Arachnids from the Order Solifugae are actually pretty common in the drier parts of the state. Of course they are active at night and most people wouldn't notice them except to step on them. We have quite a few species. I have a live one in a container right now eating a miller moth. I have determined its Family and Subfamily but i will have to send it off to an expert at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science for a species ID. From the pincers in front to the end of the abdomen 3/4 to 1 inch is the biggest I have seen in Wyoming. They are NOT venomous and can only pinch if you handle them. Here is great web site with more information on them http://bugguide.net/node/view/7570/bgpage
