The mysterious ‘alien-like insect’ that has been terrorising the people of Al Ramli has been identified as an eight limbed desert arachnid with an apt nickname ... the ‘camel spider’.
According to Northern Councillor Abdulla Ashoor, although it has quite the sting, it is fairly harmless to humans as it is not venomous.
The arachnid hibernates in the winter and then usually becomes active again when the weather starts getting warmer, which explains why some have suddenly showed up clustered in multiple locations in the area.
The average camel spider can grow up to six inches in length
“The Northern Municipal Council has received plenty of reports from concerned and frightened residents telling us about the appearance of this strange alien-like insect,” Mr Ashoor told the GDN.
“They sent me photographs of the creatures and we were able to determine that they were camel spiders.
“I did some research and it turns out they may give a painful sting but they are not life threatening.”
Also known as the ‘Galeodes arabs’ among the scientific community, the camel spider is a carnivore with an average lifespan of up to one year. It can grow up to six inches long, weigh up to two ounces and mostly feed on insects, rodents, lizards and small birds.
They became an Internet sensation during the Iraq War, when rumours of their bloodthirsty nature began to circulate online, with some tales claiming that they could reach half the size of humans.
For many years, rumours continued to spread that they were venomous and could run as fast as the average human and that they eat camels’ stomachs, as well as sleeping soldiers, but those have been debunked.
In fact, despite their name, they are not even real spiders, but rather from a class of arachnids known as solpugids.
Mr Ashoor
Mr Ashoor claimed that this enigmatic species may have arrived into the kingdom by accident from Saudi Arabia. “They thrive in not only deserts but also on farms and other vegetative habitats,” he said.
“They may have arrived in the kingdom through a shipment of fruit or vegetables, possibly from parts of Saudi Arabia, which they are native to.
“Al Ramli used to consist of a lot of farming land, meaning it makes the perfect environment for them to thrive.
“I believe they have been in hibernation for the winter as they tend to usually come up around the end of March to the beginning of April, which is why they suddenly appear to be everywhere.”
Mr Ashoor also claimed that this was not the first time a camel spider was discovered in the kingdom, with reports of the creature also being recorded in Sanad back in 2013.
If families spot them in their homes, Mr Ashoor recommends that people keep away from the creatures and call professionals for advice.
“You can call the Health Ministry hotline at 80008100 for assistance,” he said. “Not just for the camel spider, but for any invasive bugs and pests in general.
“Just inform them what is going on, identify the creature and wait for them to come and spray the premises. Otherwise, bug sprays available over the counter should always help in a pinch ... hopefully.”
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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