zforbes
Nomad
Posts: 334
Registered: 4-11-2005
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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Mood: Living the dream
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Camel spiders in Baja
Here is an interesting short article on wind scorpions (or camel spiders as they are sometimes called) found in Baja. Something to look for the next
time you visit....
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/06/0629_040629_...
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Osprey
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 5-23-2004
Location: Baja Ca. Sur
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Thanks Z
Great stuff. I've got those around my house in Baja Sur. Thought they were vinageroons or sand crickets. Great article.
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tehag
Super Nomad
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Registered: 1-8-2005
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Solpugid
Creepy lookin' but pretty harmless. Loreto, BCS
[Edited on 11-19-2005 by tehag]
[Edited on 11-19-2005 by tehag]
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tehag
Super Nomad
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Registered: 1-8-2005
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Solpugid
Just ugly, that's all.
[Edited on 11-19-2005 by tehag]
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bugdude
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Registered: 11-12-2005
Location: Arizona
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FYI
"Camel spider" (sun spiders, wind scorpions) is a common name for solpugids, large non-spider arachnids common in desert regions. Solpugids (with the
possible exception of one species in India) have no venom, not even an anaesthetic, nor any means of delivering venom even if they had any, and are
strictly predatory on smaller arthropods.
Precautions and Control: Don't handle solpugids. If one is found in the house, it can be brushed into a dustpan or other container and returned to the
outdoors. Solpugids are beneficial components of desert regions. These animals cannot be controlled, nor would it be desirable to control them since
they are part of a complex ecological food chain.
Check out this website regarding "stories" about camel spiders:
http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/spidermyth/myths/camel...
The solpugid has undoubtedly been maligned because of its appearance.
[Edited on 11/12/2005 by bugdude]
A man\'s reach should exceed his grasp - or what\'s a heaven for?
Robert Browning
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Taco de Baja
Super Nomad
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Registered: 4-14-2004
Location: Behind the Orange Curtain, CA
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Mood: Dreamin' of Baja
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Mom mom found one in her sleeping bag up in the San Pedro Martir one year  .
Another good reason to shake out your sleeping bag before getting in. 
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bajalera
Super Nomad
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Registered: 10-15-2003
Location: Santa Maria CA
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Thanks, Bugdude---
for the info, and welcome to Nomads. Do hang around--there are a lot of creepie-crawlies in BC that need to be explained. [No, Braulio, I don't mean
you.]
bajalera
\"Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest never happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects.\" -
Mark Twain
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bugdude
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Registered: 11-12-2005
Location: Arizona
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BAJALERA:
Thank you for the welcome.
[Edited on 11/12/2005 by bugdude]
A man\'s reach should exceed his grasp - or what\'s a heaven for?
Robert Browning
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Neal Johns
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Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Lytle Creek, CA
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Mood: In love!
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Marian and I were on a backpack 15 years ago to Visita Santa Aguada (NW of Mission Santa Gurtrudis) and tent camped at Rancho Las Mercedes. After we
got our clothes off, we noticed - boy, did we notice! - a fast mover running around the tent and hiding under our clothes. Panic! When we got a good
look at him (her?), I recognized it as a sun spider and shooed him out. Having seen and read about them before, I knew in my brain he was
harmless....but he had to go!
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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