THE INSECTLIBRARY FIELD GUIDES

Camel SpiderIdentification, facts & practical guidance

Camel spiders, also called solifuges or windscorpions, are arachnids in Solifugae. They are neither true spiders nor scorpions and do not have venom glands.

Compiled by the InsectLibrary Team · Updated 2026-09-30 · Editorial policy

Identification and lookalikes

Ammotrechella stimpsoni - Ammotrechella stimpsonino rights reserved. https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ Source: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/68866028

Ammotrechula catalinae - Ammotrechula catalinaeContributed by margarethe brummermann; Additional contributions by v belov

The large paired jaws are prominent. Long leglike pedipalps at the front can make the animal appear to have extra legs. There is no scorpion tail or stinger.

What camel spiders eat

They capture small animals, including insects, with their jaws. Many inhabit dry environments and shelter from exposed conditions. Dramatic online stories should not replace identification of the actual animal.

What to do next

Do not handle one: powerful jaws can pinch. If one enters a building, keep a distance and use a container only if you can do so safely. Seal gaps to reduce repeat entry.

Camel Spider: species profiles

Explore 34 species profiles covered by this guide, with recorded names and available photos.

Pale Windscorpion

Eremobates pallipes

Ammotrechella stimpsoni

no rights reserved

Ammotrechula catalinae

Branchia potens

Chanbria rectus

Chanbria regalis

Eremobates ajoanus

Eremobates angustus

Eremobates bixleri

Eremobates corpink

Eremobates gerbae

Eremobates icenogelei

Sources and further reading

ipm.ucanr.edu - windscorpionhttps://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/windscorpion/

References support the subject discussed here; they do not certify every imported directory record. Regional sources describe their own locations. Read our source and correction policy.