British Family Chased from Home by Spider

The Daily Mail has published an article detailing how a camel spider that apparently accompanied a soldier home from Afghanistan has “forced” a family to vacate their home:

The Griffiths family: Spider refugees.

A British paratrooper’s family have been forced out of their home after a camel spider hitched a ride back from Afghanistan with him.

Terrified Lorraine Griffiths thinks the sandy-coloured desert creature killed their pet dog Bella and is now nesting in her 18-year-old daughter’s bedroom.

The 37-year-old mum is so scared she has moved out of her four-bedroom army home in Colchester, Essex, with children Cassie, 18, Ricky, 16, and Ellie-Rose, four, and is now living with her mother.

Okay… I can kinda sympathize with the family, having lived through a similar experience when I was in college. Except instead of a camel spider, it was a group of homeless people, and instead of a paratrooper, it was my roommate’s boyfriend. Also, instead of hissing, there was stank.

But seriously guys… It’s a frigging spider, and not one that’s gonna kill you, either. Just step on it. Or get some Raid. This isn’t rocket science here.

According to the Royal Australian Air Force (from whom I ripped off the above photo):

Palm-sized flesh-eating Camel spiders have been found in the kit of forces returning from the field.

Although they look ferocious and have a powerful bite, they are harmless – for humans at least.

Despite the name and appearance, camel spiders are actually solifugids which, unlike spiders, do not have venom or silk glands. They prey on spiders, scorpions, insects, small vertebrates and other solifugids. Usually nocturnal, they sometimes come out in the day but will seek out shadows, even if the shadow is cast by a human. If the person moves, the solifugid follows the shadow, which gives the impression it is giving pursuit. It’s easy enough to get that impression, particularly as camel spiders can move at speeds of up to 16km/h.

So… no venom, and they prey on things you don’t want in your house anyhow. Sorry about your dog I guess, but it sounds like you got a new eight-legged pet now.

To be honest, I gotta think that dog was a wuss. I mean, come on… It was taken down by a frigging spider.

Here’s a site dedicated to camel spiders, just in case you think this Griffiths woman is at all in her right mind.

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