One of the ugliest bugs you'll ever meet...

[schrackman]

About 7 years ago I encountered the most grotesque looking bug I've ever seen crawling on my carpet. At first I thought it was a spider but it had pincers instead of fangs. I had no clue what it was. Then last week I was foraging through websites looking for a particular scorpion and came across the Wind Scorpion on National Geographic (http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0407/feature5/), which is a member of the Arachnida family (which includes spiders), and viola! there was that ugly bug I had seen so many years ago. Then last night I saw what I thought to be a spider crawling on the floor my way, only to realize after swatting and stunning it that it was a Wind Scorpion!! So naturally I had to snap a couple of pics of it this morning. Sure wish I had a better zoom lens. Sad to say, but the creature met his demise after the photoshoot. This is a male Wind Scorpion by the way. The females are much larger and uglier. These bugs are also called sun spiders or camel spiders and some species can actually span 5 inches across! The Wind Scorpion I found was only about an inch long.

[Lionheart]

spider/scorpion-if it has 8 legs and lives on land-swat and shoot photos later :-)
The Ultimate Arachnophobic-Me!!

[RP Racing]

After working in Orkin for 2 yrs I've seen some wild bugs. Had a house where the basement was full of spiders. Another that had roaches so bad you could hear them crunch under the floor tiles. A hotel room that had bed bug in the matresses (those are just utterly disgusting. Rather deal with roaches).

[Old Timer]

I don't know I think the little guys is kind of cute. He for sure is different from anything we have here in KY.

[Liz]

Yes, I agree it's ugly. Is it poisonous (sp?) as well?

Liz

[Lionheart]

Yes, I agree it's ugly. Is it poisonous (sp?) as well?

Liz

a quote from national geographic
"Zealous carnivores, they attack insects, rodents, lizards, snakes, and small birds, seizing them with jaws that can reach up to a third of their body length—among the largest for their size in the animal kingdom. Wielding those jaws like a combination pincer and knife, they chew their victims into pulp with a sawing motion. They then exude an enzyme that liquefies the flesh, which they suck into their stomachs.

Not actually scorpions, these predators are solifugids, members of the Arachnida, a class that includes spiders, mites, ticks, and true scorpions. Sometimes known as sun spiders, and called camel spiders in North Africa and the Middle East because of their humped profile, wind scorpions weigh as much as two ounces (56 grams) and can have leg spans exceeding five inches (12 centimeters). Most of the 1,100 species are nocturnal. Racing over the sand in the dark like supercharged dune buggies, they seem to know no fear."

[Speed]

I agree with you wholeheartedly buddy!

That is an UGLY bug!!!

[schrackman]

Hi Liz,

No, I don't believe they are poisonous at all. However, those pincers tell me that their bite might hurt a bit. I don't plan on finding out how much they hurt!

OT, I am willing to be there are wind scorpions in your state too. You've just never seen them. I never saw one till several years ago. The only thing I can think of that is just as ugly is the potato bug. http://www.potatobugs.com/

Yes, I agree it's ugly. Is it poisonous (sp?) as well?

Liz

[Lionheart]

The only thing I can think of that is just as ugly is the potato bug. http://www.potatobugs.com/

I just followed your link. SO that's a potato bug. I've seen those things around the house and garden. They're big and ugly, and slow moving. I thought at first they were mutant termites or ants, or some kind of wingless cicada. Thanks Schrack!!! I learned two new things today about bugs and arachnids.

[paulnj]

What a cutey actually ;)

[schrackman]

Both you and OT are SICK!! LOL

[schrackman]

I just followed your link. SO that's a potato bug. I've seen those things around the house and garden. They're big and ugly, and slow moving. I thought at first they were mutant termites or ants, or some kind of wingless cicada. Thanks Schrack!!! I learned two new things today about bugs and arachnids.

When I lived as a kid in Hayward we used to find them all the time in my dad's garden as we were tilling the soil. My dad used to think it was fun to scare us with them! I suppose it was...from my dad's point of view.

[paulnj]

They are a bit creepy looking, but what a cool subject. I for one can see the value they have in balancing nature also .

[Kokopeli]

The only thing I can think of that is just as ugly is the potato bug. http://www.potatobugs.com/

In the south, we call these Jarusalem crickets.

[Kokopeli]

The one you found is just a little brother of the ones in the middle east..

(found this photo on the web)


Just imagine waking up and finding one of those on your chest looking hungrily at your nose...

[paulnj]

I don't fear anything!!!!!, but I would have a heart attack if I found one of those on me!!!! My god, that is a jurasic park bug!

[schrackman]

The one you found is just a little brother of the ones in the middle east..

(found this photo on the web)


Just imagine waking up and finding one of those on your chest looking hungrily at your nose...

Holy crickets, Batman!! I knew these guys got big, but this is SCARY big! Those pincers could probably put quite a gash in your flesh.

I should have labeled this thread "The Most Grotesque Insect" thread and let everyone post a photo of what they believe to be their most feared bug.

By the way, good to see you, Brian! Say hi to the kids for me.

[walterick]

I should have labeled this thread "The Most Grotesque Insect" thread and let everyone post a photo of what they believe to be their most feared bug.

It's never too late ;)