Solpugid gives you his Thanks!
Just wanted to let you know I am so very thankful for your site. As a newly single mom of 3 kids I have now taken over the BUG duties. My kitten found this guy in the house tonight, and not wanting to kill something I didn’t know about I caught it and took it outside where I took this picture. Thank goodness I found your site and now know what this solpugid is. I am relieved to know I didn’t harm a great hunter, no matter how ugly it is! He will now help get rid of some more of the undesirables in the neighborhood! LOL! Like a personal bodyguard against the bad bugs! He could intimidate me!! Thanks again!
Jennie
Mesa Arizona

Hi Jennie,
We must say that we qre quite impressed you possessed the wherewithall to research the identity of your Solpugid after discovering it in your home, but before doing it harm. It is quite intimidating looking and most people would kill first and question later. We are so happy we could be of service to you and your Solpugid, also known as a Sun Spider or Wind Scorpion. As you have indicated, they are fierce and fearless hunters, but thankfully, we humans, due to our size, are not on their menu. Woe the day that big government harnesses the gram per gram hunting potential of Solpugids and unleashes it as a weapon of mass destruction.

spider query
I was watching TV when I saw this spider walking across my hardwood floor. From a distance it looked like a small scorpion. It walked with its two large front legs in the air and the other legs in close to it body. Im happy to se it not a recluse but I cannot find anything that exactly resembles this spider. I took these photos after it was dead. I had to spray the it just incase it got away. I have never sen a brown recluse and with two small boys in the house.

This is a Solpugid, sometimes called a Sun Spider or a Wind Scorpion. It is perfectly harmless as it has no venom. Solpugids are hunting machines, hence they are beneficial predators. Solpugids will quicly dispatch the scorpions you fear, as well as spiders, cockroaches and other crawling things you may not want in your home. Perhaps the next Solpugid you meet will not be gassed to death.

Another Carnage Letter that ends on a Positive Note
(04/19/2008) I panicked…thanks for the help with identification
Dear Lisa Anne and Daniel,
Though you may not be entomologists, I appreciate this “pet project” a great deal, and have included it in my favorites list. There’s no site quite like it. I intend to come back anytime my field guide fails me .like tonight when I was sitting on the floor and a solpugid (as it turns out) took me by surprise as it came running down the hall toward me. Though my first reaction is usually to trap and release most insects after I’ve identified them, when in a blur it looks like a scorpion, I swat. I’ve got babies in my house. My first thought tonight when I looked at the carnage (only squashed the back of the abdomen, so the head and legs on one side were pretty intact) was ” but it looks like a 10 legged (what the!!!) spider? with some pretty serious fangs” Next time I won’t kill my solpugid, and save it for the boys to see in the morning before releasing. Other interesting crittiers we’ve found in our family room

Insect found in Tanzania
Hello,
I made this picture (by nightshot) in the kitchen in Tanzania It was 8 cm long Color was light brown/Grey Do you know what this is??? Allready thanx for your reaction
Gr. Bert Dekker

Hi Bert,
This is a Solpugid, a group of Arachnids, sometimes known as Sun Spiders or Wind Scorpions. They are related to both spiders and scorpions, but are harmless venomless creatures. Solpugids in the Middle East grow to five inches across and are called Camel Spiders. There is much incorrect information about them circulating on the internet They are shy and harmless.

what is this?
Found in a garage in victorville , ca. Thanks
Jose "Joe" Fernandez

Hi Joe,
Your submission has us a bit puzzled. You are requesting an identification, but your photo was titled Vigaroon. There is a creature known as a Vinegarone, but this is not it. You have a Solpugid, commonly called a Sun Spider or Wind Scorpion. They are harmless predators with strong jaws but no venom.

whats that bug
Hi Bugman
I found this bug outside my house on the wall. so I knocked it down with a broom to the ground. It freaked me out when it lifted his two front legs up and tried to bite the broom. I think it is a non tail scorpion family or part of the potato bug family not sure, because we have those here in Rio Rico. It also had the clamping fangs in the front like a pinching bug.
Danny Gaxiola

Hi Danny,
This is a Solpugid, also commonly called a Sun Spider or Wind Scorpion, and in some locations, a Sand Puppy. They are harmless predators. You might get a painful nip, but they have no venom. You photo is quite amusing.

Afghan Solpugid
I found your site while looking up info on my favorite group of bugs that creep me out, solpugids. I found this one in my command post here in Afghanistan and it scared the crap out of me. Of all the things in Afghanistan to be scared of. Anyway, there are tons of them around here, here being in Laghman province at about 900 feet elevation. This one was pretty small, I think the body couldn’t have been more than an inch and a half long, but the legs make them look a lot bigger. Even small, though, they’re still pretty creepy looking. Thanks,
Jim, CPT USA 710TH BSB

Hi Jim,
Thanks so much for sending your image our way. In the past, we have posted several letters and images of Solpugids from the armed forces that have caused paranoia among our readers. It is refreshing to have your objective letter.

Solpugid
Well, once again you guys have ID’d the bug for me. I moved into a daylight basement earlier this summer and after doing my usual announcement to all bugs living in my apartment (”Hey, I’ll leave you alone if you leave me alone - if I find you on my person, you’re dead, but otherwise go about your business - unless you’re a black widow or a mosquito, then, ya gotta die.”) I’ve met plenty of new “friends” that I have id’d on your website and deposited outside (house centipede, wolf spider, etc.). My most recent find is the Solpugid on the attached photo. I actually first met him late Friday night/early Saturday morning on the floor of my bathroom (may I recommend against Limoncello/Tequila shots?). I was contemplating finally getting off the floor and into my bed, so I cracked an eye and shifted my weight and away ran one of the funkiest looking spider things I’d ever seen. I decided I no longer wished to share space with something so icky, so I went to bed. Monday evening, I was re-arranging pillows on my couch, and lo there was my spider friend. He held obligingly still for me, so I took his photo and looked on your website. I know you guys say he’s harmless to humans - but with pedipalps and chelicerae like that? Heebie Jeebie city. I popped him outside where he promptly ran into a hidey hole. I hope he stays there and eats lots of pest bugs. As usual I shared my new bug story with my friends. Here is my friend Josh’s reply after he checked out the Solpugid on the first page of your website: Ok, Mary? Uh, I don’t want you to think I don’t love you or anything. Because I totally do. It’s just that, well, I looked at the picture of your spider and…hoooo this is tough. Ok, I just don’t really think I can go inside of your house ever again. There, I said it…. Heh, weenie.
Mary
Reno, NV

Hi Mary,
If that weenie Josh can’t deal with a harmless Solpugid, just kick him to the curb and find some new friends that are your match in wit and courage. Also you should tell him that he might want to relocate away from Reno as chances are pretty good there are a dozen or so within 100 feet of him at this very moment.

So… yeah, what’s this bug?
Found this thing walking around my basement and my friends and I have no idea what to think about it… I’m sure you know, so please inform! All I know about it is that it is a really poor climber and would not attack a beetle.
Thanks,
Jake

Hi Jake,
Your creature is an Arachnid known as a Solpugid, commonly called Wind Scorpions or Sun Spiders, though they are neither scorpions nor spiders. They have no venom, but powerful jaws and rip their prey apart. It is rumored they are excellent climbers, contrary to your observation. They are also aggressive hunters, contrary to your observations.