Don't touch the floor... don't touch the floor...
Trip Start
Nov 06, 2009
1
8
Trip End
Feb 05, 2010
Salalah, Oman
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
THIS is what scurried across the floor last night as I was on the computer and Oli was sleeping in bed. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a movement, turned, looked.... BIG TERRIFYING SPIDER crawling under the bed. I jumped up on the chair and woke Oli up with my 'OH my GOD!', and he groggily investigated. I kept pleading for him to keep his bare feet away from under the bed... Oli hadn't seen it, how could he know the monster that lurked there? He moved the bed to try and chase it out as I stood far away and peered under it. The damn thing JUMPED straight up into the air when the bed moved, and clung to the underside of the beams.
...
We slept in the spare room last night.
...
This morning, it was in the living room (at least, I hope it was the same one... I'm hiding in the closet if there's two of those things..) and Oli unsuccessfully attempted to smash it with a shoe. It got away and I totally know it's seeking revenge, and gonna crawl on me and eat my face when I sleep. . Oli's coworkers told him it could be a Camel Spider so I googled it and sure enough...
There are urban myths about these things they're so freaky. Such as:
1. Camel spiders can move at speeds over 30 MPH, screaming while they run.
2. Camel spiders can be as large as a frisbee.
3. Camel spiders venom is an anesthetic that numbs their prey.
4. Camel spiders can jump three feet high.
5. Camel spiders get their name because they eat the stomachs of camels.
6. They eat or gnaw on people while they sleep. Due to the numbing effect of their venom, the victim is unaware until they awake.
Yes, urban myths... so, not true (please!). But what *is* true is they can run at 16km/hr.... 16!!! And their bite leaves a bloody wound because their jaws are so strong. Do people really need to MAKE UP scary facts about these things??? Are they not pants-wettingly scary enough??!
-M
Comments
Thanks for sharing this interesting story. I really enjoyed reading this :) Those who are interested to know more about hobo spiders should visit camelspider.org.