Bug of the Week: Euphrynichus Amanica

The Euphrynichus Amanica, more commonly known as the Whip Spider is found in Kenya and Tanzania.   They are also known as the Tailless Whip Scorpion.  While given both the name spider and scorpion they are arachnids.  Whip spiders only have six legs; the other two have evolved into sensory “feelers”.  The sensory feelers are organs that the spider uses to sense things.  They have claws, called pedipalps, on the end of their legs that act as grabbers for prey, such as worms and other insects.  Whip Spiders are nocturnal and prefer small, dark areas.  When the Whip Spider reproduces the newborn spiders cling to their mother’s abdomen for several days after birth.  The babies are easy to see as they are white.  The width of the Whip Spider can reach as much as ten inches including their legs but the torso is usually less than one inch in length.  Whip Spiders have been famously used in the film “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”.  While it is stated in the film that even one bite could kill you, they are harmless and would be more likely to pinch you than bite you.