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Home  /  Countries  /  Insects that Flee the Sun
sunspider facts
15 May 2013

Insects that Flee the Sun

Written by Nicole
Countries biting insects, crawling insects, insects, red roman spider, spiders, sun spider 25 Comments
    
The Red Roman
animalworld.com.ua

The Red Roman Spider, also known as a Sun Spider or Wind Scorpion, is a strange creature, belonging to the Arachnida class. Although its name suggests it is a spider; this is actually not the case. The only likeness that they share with spiders is that they have eight legs. They also somewhat resemble scorpions. Now, if this fact doesn’t leave you intrigued, it is also worth mentioning that these creatures are not poisonous and do not have venom sacs, although they are found to be very aggressive and can inflict painful bites.

This type of arachnid belongs to the group Solifugae, which is derived from Latin and means “fleeing from the sun”. The term “sun spider” refers to the fact that this insect is active during the daytime and escapes the heat of the day by running from shadow to shadow – often people’s shadows. This gives the frightening impression that one is being chased! On the other hand, South Africans tend to refer to this critter as a “Red Roman”, or in Afrikaans, as a rooi roman, haarskeerder (“hair cutter”) or baardskeerder (“beard cutter”) because of its sizeable jaws and the fact that it often cuts the hair of sleeping people and animals, using the hair to line its nest! It has even been reported that they have left bald patches on dogs, sheep and other animals.

Powerful Red Roman

If this isn’t bizarre enough, they prey on spiders, scorpions, small reptiles and even on each other, while still alive. Their chelicerae (a powerful pincher, much like that of a crab’s) are so powerful that they are able to cut through skin and thin bones (such as those of a bird’s), feathers and vertebrae. They are known to stridulate with their chelicerae, producing rattling sounds.

Solifugae are around 70 – 160mm in length and red-brown in colour. Furthermore, these insects appear to have ten legs, but in fact have eight, like most arachnids do. The first pair is shorter and are actually “false legs” (referred to as pedipalps) which act as sensory organs, much like the antennae of insects. These appendages do not completely touch the ground and are used for feeding, fighting, climbing smooth surfaces, for detecting obstacles and for catching flying prey.

Red Romans are known to inhabit deserts, preferring warm temperatures. They live under rocks and in sandy ranges – so it’s unlikely that you’ll see them all over the place – but should you find yourself in dry and hot regions, keep your eyes peeled for these hostile, hair-cutting, shadow-hopping critters!

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Nicole

Nicole Maritz is an Online Marketing Executive at Rentokil Initial in Johannesburg. Although she is in love with nature and its elements, the creepy crawlies do sometimes get to her - especially Jo'burg's repulsively large, hissing Parktown Prawns! Follow Nicole on Twitter for updates on the weird and the wonderful.

25 Comments

  1. Rox Reply to Rox
    December 4, 2013 at 1:55 pm

    Lovely summary of these very weird bugs! I moved from Cape Town to a tiny town out in the Boland, Western Cape – last night I saw my first Red Roman in the lounge. Then this morning, I found one trapped in an empty plastic jug in the bathroom – from the size of it, an adult.

    We have loads of spiders, and a few scorpions out here (in the house and garden)… was really cool to see these ones though. They may even outdo roaches in their sheer ability to bring on the shudders, but that somehow makes them even more interesting. Not all bugs are pests too, after all. 🙂

    • Nicole Reply to Nicole
      December 5, 2013 at 3:28 pm

      Hi Rox

      I am glad that you enjoyed the post. Thank you for sharing your experience!

      Yes, indeed these ‘spiders’ are very strange creatures – something I do not wish to come across, to be honest. They do bring a new meaning to the word ‘creepy crawly’! True, as you say “not all bugs are pests”, and spiders in general do help to control the insect population, our own natural pest control technicians! 🙂

      If you come across any other weird and wonderful critters, please drop me a line – I’d love to hear about it.

      • Rox Reply to Rox
        December 6, 2013 at 9:11 am

        Thanks Nicole! I have come across some very interesting critters, and more than happy to share. I’ve followed @deBugged on Twitter – will share some of my recent pics! 🙂

        • Nicole Reply to Nicole
          December 6, 2013 at 9:26 am

          Thank you Rox, I look forward to seeing your photos, please do share!:)

  2. Barbara Reply to Barbara
    December 5, 2015 at 2:51 pm

    I live with them daily! I’m in the Karoo and this year they seem to invade my house. As soon as I open a door or window, the come running in. so much so that I’m scared to sleep 🙁 How do I repel them?

    • Nicole Reply to Nicole
      December 7, 2015 at 8:22 am

      Hi Barbara

      As Red Roman spiders are active hunters, this means that they wander around in search of their prey, and unfortunately enter homes in search of prey. Our resident entomologist recommends making use of general housekeeping duties to prevent their entry into your home such as sealing cracks and crevices with sealant, adding bristle strips and screens to doors, as well as fly screens to windows.

      Hope this helps!
      Best regards
      Nicole

    • John Reply to John
      December 30, 2016 at 10:28 am

      Hi Barbara, . Have those little beasties in Aberdeen also. Put a big one in a bottle with a large cockroach. The cockroach was eaten in under two minutes. If I can get close enough to them in the house at night I spray them with Doom , like the Pastor did to his flock. They slow down and I pick them up and throw them outside. My wife is terrified of them. The temperature today is close to 42 and we expect them tonight. From John, Aberdeen, Karroo.

  3. Hennie Reply to Hennie
    January 5, 2016 at 11:16 pm

    Nicole. I come across them in my house oftten as well. If they hide from the light doesn’t that mean that by ceeping lights on in u r house will ceep them out?

    I don’t like them at all as I have been bitten by one during my sleep where my mother last powderd me when I was a baby. Since then they just freak me out. They climb into u r bed and bite u when u role over them as well.

    No killl them on site.

    So lights on or off. Another bite to the crown jewels will just not do. And it stings a while. Something like a burning sting.
    Not cool.

    Well hope to hear from u soon.

    • Nicole Reply to Nicole
      January 7, 2016 at 2:46 pm

      Hi Hennie

      Thanks for sharing your story with me. I am sorry to hear about your ordeal with the Red Roman spider, how scary!
      These critters are known to reside in hot, desert-like habitats and are rarely found indoors. If they are, they are considered to be “casual intruders”.

      I would recommend keeping your lights off as this attracts a multitude of pests – anything from moths, to mosquitoes and possibly your feared fiend as well. Make sure to seal any cracks and gaps where they can gain entry, such as around windows and door frames and make use of bristle strips beneath doors to keep them out. Another option is to make use of insect screens to prevent their entry.

      Hope this helps!

      Best Regards,
      Nicole

  4. Conrad Reply to Conrad
    January 23, 2016 at 7:06 am

    Any repellent that can be used to keep them from entering your house ?

    • Nicole Reply to Nicole
      February 19, 2016 at 11:05 am

      Hi Conrad

      There isn’t any particular repellent I would recommend since Red Roman spiders are casual intruders and are rarely found indoors. What I would suggest however, proofing your home by adding sealant to cracks and crevices, fly screens to doors and windows as well as bristle strips beneath doors to prevent their entry.

      Best of luck! 🙂
      Nicole

      • Sue Kirkwood Reply to Sue
        April 14, 2016 at 10:23 am

        Hi Nicole
        A message from an ‘uitlander’. I was born and lived in SA until 1999. lived in Mica, near Hoedspruit in the Limpopo Valley for a good few years. We had lots of Red Romans in that area. At night we used to be entertained by them when TV was boring. I have nothing but love for these little critters. My 5 year old son used to catch them and hold them in his cupped hands so they would screech. He was never bitten once. I think it must take a lot of provocation to get them to inflict a bite. I now live in the UK and to be honest, Red Romans is one of the top of my list of ‘I miss….’ items. Call me peculiar or what?

        • Nicole Reply to Nicole
          April 14, 2016 at 12:04 pm

          Hi Sue

          What an interesting story, thanks for sharing! Listening to screeching sounds from a sun spider sounds like much better entertainment than watching TV in any case!

          I bet a whole lot of people might say that is strange that you miss Red Romans, but in an area rife with these critters, they become the norm rather than the exception to the rule. Most of the time though spiders, snakes and insects are much more scared of us than we are of them and only retaliate in defense.

          I am not sure if I will miss any creepy crawly… What I can say though is when you are away from your home country, you tend to miss things you’d never thought you would! (One thing I would never miss are scary Parktown Prawns, yuk!)

          Take care!
          Best,
          Nicole

  5. Debbie Hattingh Reply to Debbie
    September 27, 2016 at 7:36 pm

    Hi Nicole, I currently have a big Red Roman in my bedroom. How can I get it out of the house without killing it?

    • Nicole Reply to Nicole
      September 28, 2016 at 12:18 pm

      Hi Debbie

      Our entomologist says that there aren’t too many options available for removing the Red Roman from your bedroom. He suggests that you sweep the critter out with a broom – although this can prove a bit tricky since they move quite speedily. Plus, if you do manage it, you would still have to sweep it through your house.. so that might not work very well.

      Alternatively, you can place a container (like an ice cream container) over the Red Roman, slip in something sturdy (like a book, cardboard sheet or a lid) underneath to trap it inside the container and then flip it over. This way you can get the spider out of your bedroom without killing it and also with less hassle. Be sure to relocate the spider somewhere that is not nearby your bedroom window, and somewhere they can roam freely in their habitat without the need to watch you sleeping.

      At least they’re not venomous, though they do pack quite a punch when they decide to bite. The key word here is “swift”; be sure to swiftly catch this critter, they might be creepy, but not all that ‘crawly’!

  6. Gilbert Orsmond Reply to Gilbert
    October 17, 2016 at 8:37 pm

    This is what I did to clear my house of these nasty little critters:

    Step 1: Make sure you are in a safe place, as far away from them as possible.
    Step 2: Grab a lighter.
    Step 3: Light the trail of gasoline that you made to your house on fire to ensure they all burn down together with your house.
    Step 4: Claim from the insurance saying that a meteor landed on your house and burned it down.
    Step 5: Use the money from your insurance claim to fund a trip to Mars where there will not be any spiders.
    Step 6: Live happily ever after.

    • Nicole Reply to Nicole
      October 18, 2016 at 8:20 am

      Hi Gilbert

      Your comment gave me quite a chuckle! 🙂

      Whenever I see a scary hairy critter, I feel like following each step of your list!

      Thankfully our Rentokil technicians are my superheroes when it comes to the creepy and the crawly and I can quickly give them a call to pay me a visit and rid my house of any unwelcome, uninvited guests! Phew.

      Thank you and take care
      Nicole

  7. thoriek Reply to thoriek
    November 4, 2016 at 10:05 am

    Hi nicole I need some advice. A spider bit me on my beerd an knw there’s hair gone issin there myb something I can use jst 2 let my hair grow back plz

    • Nicole Reply to Nicole
      November 4, 2016 at 10:46 am

      Hi Thoriek

      I’m sorry to hear about your beard! Be sure to monitor the spider bite and if it seems infected, it would be best to visit your GP.
      As for the hair growth, I am not too sure what would be the best course of action, though I have heard that Prosana tablets and Alpecin hair products are quite effective for hair growth.

      Hope this helps!
      Nicole

  8. Anton Reply to Anton
    November 14, 2016 at 9:04 pm

    I really appreciated the positive and constructive advice. It is environmentally friendly and extremely relevant and practical.

    • Nicole Reply to Nicole
      November 15, 2016 at 12:33 pm

      Thanks Anton – glad to hear you find our advice useful!
      If you need advice on anything else, please let us know.

      Best regards
      Nicole

  9. Sue-Mari Reply to Sue-Mari
    December 4, 2016 at 12:43 pm

    Hi we moved to a plot and they are just more and more every night they are very freaky…we are used to them but they do scare my visitors….. I didn’t know what it was and a friend told me to look up a red Roman spider and there was our scary creature.

    • Nicole Reply to Nicole
      December 5, 2016 at 7:29 am

      Hi Sue-Mari

      I agree – these critters are indeed freaky! I don’t blame your visitors for being skittish around them, as would I!
      Please see my previous comments and advice to this post for helpful tips you can employ around your home. If you need any other advice, please let me know!
      Thanks and best of luck!
      Nicole.

  10. Jody Reply to Jody
    December 10, 2017 at 10:57 pm

    I hate this this things. It’s creepy. I experience them in summer on a daily ‘basis. I kill them only way to get rid of them. They creep in my bed at night and daytime, even under the pillows I found them couple of times. I don’t know how they get in the bed but I have even decided to lift my bed to have more height still they get up. . In summer I kill about 4 to 5 a day in my house. I don’t know where they come from. Maybe it’s the wooden floors I’m.having. I am disagreeing they do like heat because they are always in the warm humid areas of my house. My lounge having tiles and always cool I’ll never find them there only where the carpets and wooden floors are and in my beds under blankets and stuff.

    • Nicole Reply to Nicole
      December 13, 2017 at 9:09 am

      Hi Jody

      Thanks for sharing!

      I agree – Red Romans are creepy to say the least, and very determined too! These ‘casual intruders’ enter homes in search of other insects to prey on and are in a way, a natural form of pest control. Thank you for sharing your observation. Spiders in general tend to favour more protected areas where they are not easily disturbed.

      Thanks,
      Nicole

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