A camel spider bite is not directly fatal to humans. However, the bite can be painful and leave a vicious-looking wound. The biggest risk associated with a bite is infection. It is advisable to seek medical attention if the appearance of an injury worsens over time.
The creature known as a "camel spider" is not actually a spider, nor is it a scorpion. It is a different but related type of arachnid called a solpugid. Its habitat is the desert terrain of the Middle East, parts of Africa, and the southwestern United States. The camel spider has been called several other names, including sun spider, wind spider, and wind scorpion.
The fear of camel spiders is due in large part to their large chelicerae, the fanged appendages near their mouths that are used to grasp and chew food. These cutting chelicerae are why solpugids are also known as "beard cutters." Although solpugids are not poisonous, their chelicerae can penetrate human skin. In most cases, a camel spider will generally only bite if it feels threatened.
Like any puncture wound, infection from a camel spider bite is possible if bacteria enter broken skin. However, only 9 percent of spider bites of any kind result in bacterial infections. It is important to properly clean any affected tissue to prevent disease.
The sensational camel spider bite stories flourished beginning in 2003, with the presence of US troops in the Middle East during the Iraqi conflict. A photograph showing a soldier holding a giant camel spider was circulating on the Internet. In fact, the image was actually of two camel spiders linked together. Other photographs purported to show a camel spider bite swollen and oozing blood. Those bite injuries likely came from more dangerous venomous spiders; there is no indication that they were caused by a camel spider bite.
Myths have accused camel spiders of preying on cats and dogs. There are also stories of solpugids eating the stomachs of camels. One rumor even suggests that these arachnids can run 30 miles per hour (48.2 kph), chase people and attack them.
In fact, camel spiders are actually relatively small. Their diet consists mainly of insects, scorpions, and lizards. They move quickly, at 10 miles per hour (16 kph), but are not aggressive toward humans.
The word solpugid means "those who flee from the sun". The name is related to the fact that the camel spider tries to escape from sunlight. He meets the shadows cast by people as they walk by. Witnesses who have observed this behavior may have misinterpreted it as assault.