BajaNomad - PLEASE IDENTIFY THIS

PLEASE IDENTIFY THIS

rob - 7-23-2011 at 03:27 PM

Can anyone tell us what this creature is?

He/she/it was pretty aggressive (or at least unimpressed) when captured, and my ranch manager tells me that it is instant death to be bitten by one (although this threat is pretty routine).

Last seen heading off into a mangle bush . . .

thingy.jpg - 43kB

BajaGringo - 7-23-2011 at 03:31 PM

Jerusalem Cricket - AKA Potato Bug

Bug

tehag - 7-23-2011 at 03:37 PM

Solpugids, also known as Solifugids, "Sun Scorpions", "Camel Spiders", "Sun Spiders", "Wind Scorpions"

Harmless to humans.

Bajame - 7-23-2011 at 03:42 PM

Potato Bug

El Comadante Loco - 7-23-2011 at 04:03 PM

Beware Rob this could be the incarnation of the
Chupacabras.. One bite and ............ :lol:

Bob H - 7-23-2011 at 04:28 PM

Potato bug images.... here

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image...

Marc - 7-23-2011 at 04:33 PM

Bugzilla

cabobaja - 7-23-2011 at 04:38 PM

Come on.....cannot believe you have never seen a potato bug. Gather about 30 more, have Linda roast them in olive oil and mix with salad.
Yummy!!

woody with a view - 7-23-2011 at 04:42 PM

el hijo de la langosta y alacran.....

mcfez - 7-23-2011 at 05:03 PM

Potato Bug!
Harmless. Will not attack. These used to be a very common insect till the 60's. We have a few out here on the farm...but not the thousands like it used to be.

BooJumMan - 7-23-2011 at 05:33 PM

Those things are so darn ugly!

Jack Swords - 7-23-2011 at 05:43 PM

Tehag is correct. Count the legs. This is an arachnid, not an insect (potato bug). Ugly, can be quite fast, but harmless. Google solpugid.

toneart - 7-23-2011 at 06:01 PM

That's a cross eyed Bugaboo! That's what makes them so dangerous.

BajaBlanca - 7-23-2011 at 06:06 PM

see now I was also told it was called a nino de a tierra and also told that it was MUY peligroso ....

Woooosh - 7-23-2011 at 06:09 PM

Really? More than a dozen posts and no definitive answer yet. If it were a fish...

http://www.google.com.mx/search?q=Solpugids&hl=en&rl...

This little guy is a Solpugid

[Edited on 7-24-2011 by Woooosh]

[Edited on 7-24-2011 by Woooosh]

marv sherrill - 7-23-2011 at 06:24 PM

Definitly a solpugid - no stinger - arachnid- not a potato- bug scary little buggers but deadly on c-ckroaches - they will bite if handled.

Andrew Zimmerman

woody with a view - 7-23-2011 at 06:28 PM

this guy has the answer:

:light:

rsz_bizarre_ss_chengdu_011_596x334.jpg - 18kB

Woooosh - 7-23-2011 at 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by woody with a view
this guy has the answer:

:light:

That is the bravest man on earth. The stuff he get's past his lips is incredible.

mcfez - 7-23-2011 at 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh
Really? More than a dozen posts and no definitive answer yet. If it were a fish...

http://www.google.com.mx/search?q=Solpugids&hl=en&rl...

This little guy is a Solpugid

[Edited on 7-24-2011 by Woooosh]

[Edited on 7-24-2011 by Woooosh]

I take back my words...
Well...seeing it up close..ya...it aint no potato bug.

Does however look like my Mother in Law. Does this thing yell a lot? :lol:

Bajachillin - 7-24-2011 at 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mcfez[/i

I take back my words...
Well...seeing it up close..ya...it aint no potato bug.

Does however look like my Mother in Law. Does this thing yell a lot?

In German?

Jack Swords - 7-24-2011 at 08:21 AM

When we lived in Todos Santos we were told they were called "matavenado" (kill a deer). This term was also applied to a large harmless spider. Of course the tarantulas were dangerous and the snakes were all coral snakes. As a biology teacher I took on the task of education only to receive the endearing nick name of "loco gringo" as I handled each to illustrate their harmlessness. Maybe someone was listening, hope so.

David K - 7-24-2011 at 09:06 AM

Potato Bugs aren't quite as sacry looking... plus they smell like their name and move slow if at all...

The Wind Scorpion/ Camel Spider/ Matavenado (Deer Killer) is a fast mover, no time to smell it! :lol:

[Edited on 7-24-2011 by David K]

[Edited on 12-29-2017 by David K]

rob - 7-24-2011 at 09:12 AM

Many thanks to all for taking the trouble to respond - who needs Wikipedia?

There is definitely a culture here in rural Baja that tends to dramatize the danger of - well - DANGEROUS-looking species to humans. Of course, even twenty years ago, being bitten by some nameless thing could have meant a painful death - so its merely evolution at work . . . there are old rancheros, there are bold rancheros, but there are NO old, bold rancheros.

(with apologies to Capt Mike)

mcfez - 7-24-2011 at 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rob
Many thanks to all for taking the trouble to respond - who needs Wikipedia?

There is definitely a culture here in rural Baja that tends to dramatize the danger of - well - DANGEROUS-looking species to humans. Of course, even twenty years ago, being bitten by some nameless thing could have meant a painful death - so its merely evolution at work . . . there are old rancheros, there are bold rancheros, but there are NO old, bold rancheros.

(with apologies to Capt Mike)

After spending years in Baja back county...I have yet to see a snake. Scorpions....just saw them for the first time a year ago.

David K - 7-24-2011 at 10:44 AM

Deno, go into the back country in the month of April... that is when you will see snakes! On year (2003) we saw 3 rattlesnakes on the same trip (in three different places in Baja).

SiReNiTa - 7-24-2011 at 11:43 AM

These creatures, although not venemous, are very fast and aggresive, the bite hurts a heck of a lot but that's about it. Adrian got bit by one of these little buggers last year when Izaak was a new born, freaked the hell outta me but nothing bad came of it

mcfez - 7-24-2011 at 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Deno, go into the back country in the month of April... that is when you will see snakes! On year (2003) we saw 3 rattlesnakes on the same trip (in three different places in Baja).

Why? We have them critters here in the farm....up to four feet long. Gopher snakes. Strong as heck.

I am sure there are snakes in Baja...but I am unlucky to see them. I think its because I make my wife walk ahead of me on the trails ....

Skipjack Joe - 7-24-2011 at 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jack Swords
Of course the tarantulas were dangerous and the snakes were all coral snakes. As a biology teacher I took on the task of education only to receive the endearing nick name of "loco gringo" as I handled each to illustrate their harmlessness. Maybe someone was listening, hope so.

You handled coral snakes? :wow:

Jack Swords - 7-24-2011 at 02:03 PM

Didn't mean to give that impression....any and all snakes (excepting rattlesnakes) were called coral snakes and considered dangerous and therefore killed.. So handling any snake the assumption was it was a coral snake, it wasn't. The point being that most snakes are harmless and beneficial and should not be killed. Same with tarantulas, etc.

mcfez - 7-24-2011 at 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jack Swords
Didn't mean to give that impression....any and all snakes (excepting rattlesnakes) were called coral snakes and considered dangerous and therefore killed.. So handling any snake the assumption was it was a coral snake, it wasn't. The point being that most snakes are harmless and beneficial and should not be killed. Same with tarantulas, etc.

Absolutely

Bajachillin - 7-24-2011 at 05:23 PM

Rattlesnakes around house or camp, relocated. Rattlesnakes any where else, left alone. But be forewarned. Pick one up in front of you sister and she might feint.

vgabndo - 7-24-2011 at 09:50 PM

The banded sand snake is consistently called 'coralito' and thought dangerous.

Skipjack Joe - 7-24-2011 at 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jack Swords

The point being that most snakes are harmless and beneficial and should not be killed. Same with tarantulas, etc.

Couldn't agree with you more.

Von - 7-25-2011 at 01:21 PM

Love the smell of potato bug in the mornin mmmmm~m~m

Bugman - 7-28-2011 at 09:41 AM

I know I am a little late to the party on this one but being an entomologist I will confirm that it is a solpugid (sun spider). They look pretty mean but really nothing to worry about. They only bite if defending themselves and are not venomous.

BajaNomad - 7-28-2011 at 10:23 AM

A dozen or more (?) threads on here in the past asking about - or discussing - Sun Spiders, Camel Spiders, Wind Scorpions, and what the locals in Baja seem to refer to as Mata Venado (Matavenado) - "deer killer".

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=47246
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=38330
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=33295
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=27185
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=23503
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=14092

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_spider

One of Russ' pictures:

[Edited on 7-28-2011 by BajaNomad]

DENNIS - 7-28-2011 at 10:27 AM

That thing has three eyes. Very creeepy. Even a Buddhist wouldn't let this guy hang around too long.

Bugman - 7-28-2011 at 03:06 PM

There are actually a few rather similar looking creatures that are getting confused in these threads and it can be hard to tell them apart if you don't know what to look for. The pic just a couple posts above mine is not a sun spider but a vinegarroon. I guess the bottom line is that although these guys look pretty nasty they don't live up to their looks. It is still a good idea to handle with care as some can bite and the vinegarroons can spray a vinegar smelling liquid. They are not gong to hurt you though. :cool:

Bajajorge - 7-30-2011 at 08:55 AM

I haven't got the vaguest, foggiest. :?: