Order Solifugae
The Solifuges, or Sun Spiders, are a diverse order of Arachnids of which 241 species (of 6 different families) occur here in the southern parts of the African continent – that’s almost a quarter of all the Solifugae species found on earth. While most species are associated with arid scrub and deserts, there are species occurring in virtually every corner of South Africa.
Some species are exceptionally large, with bodies measuring 7cm in length and boasting a leg span of as much as 16cm – the size of a side plate!
Solifuges are solitary creatures, and depending on the species are either diurnal or nocturnal. When not actively out hunting they hide in tunnels up to 23cm deep that they dig themselves under logs and rocks. Females reproduce only once, laying as many as 200 eggs in a tunnel she digs and often guards until the eggs hatch about a month later.
Though they look scary, are fast moving and quite aggressive, Solifuges pose no danger to humans other than a painful bite. They are not venomous at all and rely on their speed and imposingly grotesque jaws to catch and overpower their prey – mainly insects and other invertebrates, but they have even been recorded catching small reptiles and rodents much larger than themselves!
Their colloquial Afrikaans name “Baardskeerder”, meaning “Beardshaver”, comes from a (probably) mistaken belief that they will cut pieces of hair or beard from sleeping humans – females of some species are known to use hair and fur to line their tunnels but this is probably collected rather than harvested. To my mind their impressive jaws are also reminiscent of sheep-shears. On hot days diurnal species seek out shade, and if that shade happens to be provided by a moving human, they will follow you around at whatever speed you’re trying to use to put distance between the solifuge and yourself with hilarious consequences and leading to another traditional Afrikaans name of “jaagspinnekop” (chasing spider) for these creatures.
Solifuges have difficulty adapting to captivity, usually dying within a week or two of being captured, though they can live for up to a year in the wild. Attempting to keep one as a pet is therefore strongly discouraged.
DeWetsWild 
Horrifically fascinating, Dries. I hope I never meet one of these. 😳
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😀
Better safe than sorry I say!
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Fascinating information and photos – thank you.
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Being such avid campers you’ve probably also got a few tales to tell about run-ins with sun spiders, Carol?
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Oddly enough I don’t remember ever seeing one! Either I am not very observant or I have a bad memory …
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Murphy’s Law dictates that you’ll be overrun by them on your next camping trip!
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Tempting fate!
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The size of those spiders reminded me of a line in the movie, Annie Hall, “Honey, you have a spider as big as a Buick.”
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Must have been speaking about one of these, John!
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Great photographs!
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Thank you, Anne!
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These are found in the Middle East too, they call them “camel spiders”. Many years ago I did some work in the Amazon Jungle where I saw gigantic spiders that hunted birds as part of their long list menu. Great post, D. as always. 🙂
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Bird hunting spiders! I think they would get my skin crawling too!
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Jagspinnekop het ons dit ook genoem soos Frannie sê. In my tyd het ons kaalvoet skooltoe gegaan. Smiddae sal ta lekker op die uitkyk wees vir skaduwees in die voetpaadjies. Is soos jy ook sê hul hardloop amper vinniger as jy om in skaduwee te kom. Later in die hoërskool het ons hul ook teengekom as ons huistoe geloop het. Ons het mekaar uitgedaag om jou toon stil te hou dat hy hom kan byt. Natuurlik nooit gebeur nie sodra hy begin hardloop na jou toe sal jy so bietjie stilstaan maar hoe nader hy kom hoe harder hol hy weg op die einde. Lekker ou dae.
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Klink of julle ook lekker pret gehad het met die vreesaanjaende gediertetjies, Ineke. Nou dat ek weet wat hulle is en wat hulle nie is nie pla hulle my nie meer nie, maar my gesinslede het nog nie hulle vrees ontgroei nie en dan giggel ek lekker as een van hierdie by ons kampplek kom kuier.
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Ek was meestal die dapperste van ons klomp kinders. Maar om regtig stil te staan dat ou spinnie op my klim? Nee dankie dis grillerig. Die reënspinnekoppe is ook grillerig. Hulle is hier maar meer in die wildernis as mens so kan sê.
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Urghgh – ek gril my besimpeld. My mammie (Wes-Transvaal) het dit ‘n jagspinnekop genoem, wat selfs gevaarliker as ‘n jaagspinnekop klink!
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Absoluut – klink of hy agter n bos gaan skuil om op niksvermoedende verbygangers te spring!
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So interessant! My dogter het naby Hoedspruit gewerk en hierdie gediertes het haar lewe versuur – daar was selfs eendag twee binne die muskietnet waarmee sy haarself probeer beveilig het.
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Ek dink hulle weet presies wie om te verpes, Tannie Frannie! 😀
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