Creepy crawlies – whip spider explained
Their first pair of legs are actually used as feelers, those feelers are long and ‘whip’ like, sometimes measuring as much as 15cm long each.
“WHIP spiders are completely harmless although I guess they could induce a heart attack in those who are scared easily,” said Warren Dick.
They are common in tropical and subtropical environments world wide and very common in Durban. These spiders can grow quite large, with a body diametre being a little bigger than a five rand coin when fully grown.
They are often called tailless whip scorpions, or whip scorpions. Even though they kind of resemble a scorpion, they are actually more closely related to spiders, hence the common English name of whip spider.
Whip spiders have eight legs, however, they only use six for walking. They live in dark places and only venture out at night, hence they don’t have very good vision.
Their first pair of legs are actually used as feelers, those feelers are long and ‘whip’ like, sometimes measuring as much as 15cm long each.
They have a crab-like sideways walk all the while feeling around for suitable small prey, such as woodlice. Prey is then grabbed with the large spins on its grasping pedipalps. Due to the fact that they don’t have venom, they are very nervous creatures, being very quick to get out of the way of danger.
According to Warren, they are completely harmless. “I have found that they simply play dead if one tries to pick them up.”
Like all scorpions and even some spiders, the whip spider is actually a good mother. She lays her eggs into a sac that is kept under her abdomen. When the young hatch she will stay with them, having her babies climb on her back where they are kept safe. After their first molt the babies move off on their own.
Contact Warren to have some of your interesting spiders, snakes or other wildlife identified. Call or WhatsApp him on 072-211-0353. Follow the conversation on Facebook, Warren’s Small World.
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