Camel spider (also known as Solifuge, Sun spider, or Wind scorpion)
Scientific Name: Order Solifugae (Various species)
Order & Family: Order: Solifugae; Family: Various (e.g., Eremobatidae, Rhagodidae)
Size: Most species range from 0.4 to 6 inches (1 to 15 centimeters) in length including legs.
Natural Habitat
Typically found in arid, desert, and semi-arid environments worldwide, excluding Antarctica and Australia.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous; they primarily feed on insects, spiders, scorpions, and small vertebrates like lizards or birds.
Behavior Patterns
Mainly nocturnal but sometimes active during the day (sun spiders). They are fast runners that use their pedipalps for sensing and grasping prey. They often seek shade during the heat of the day, which can lead them to move toward human shadows.
Risks & Benefits
They have no venom glands and are not a significant danger to humans, though they can deliver a painful bite if mishandled. They are beneficial to the ecosystem as natural pest controllers.
Identified on: 5/31/2026