Phalanx - a monster from the class of arachnids

• Phalanx - a monster from the class of arachnids

Phalanges or solpugami these large arachnids called in Russia. In most other countries, they are known as "camel spider" (due desert environment) or "wind scorpion" (due to high velocity movement).

In the world there are about 1000 species. The nature of these arachnids fully consistent with their appearance. In addition, they are extremely voracious. So in captivity phalanx can eat as long as the burst, literally.

Phalanges or solpugi or bihorki or camel spider (Latin Solifugae.) - a detachment of arachnids (Arachnida). Inhabit the arid region.

Phalanx - a rather large spider. Central Asia phalange, for example, reaches a length of 5-7 cm. Their body and limbs are covered with long hairs. Tentacle-pedipalps, located in front, very similar to the limbs and perform their function.

All the phalanx very mobile and almost all of them - the night predators. Phalanges are carnivorous or omnivorous, feeding on termites, bees, beetles, darkling beetles, and other small arthropods, but also can eat larger animals, such as lizards.

Appearance solpug quite unusual.

their body length up to 5-7 centimeters, but there is a small species that do not exceed 15 mm. Their body is covered with numerous long hairs and bristles, which give solpuge even more menacing appearance.

Phalanx characteristic of desert areas.

In the former USSR phalanx occurs in the Lower Volga region, Kalmykia, North Caucasus, South Caucasus, Central Asian Republics, Kazakhstan. In Europe, also known in Spain and Greece. Found on the southern coast of the Crimean peninsula.

Phalanx most active at night. During the day they hide in various shelters, under rocks, in burrows of rodents and other animals, or you can dig a hole with the help of chelicerae, throwing the ground underfoot. Some use the same hole for a long time, others are satisfied with every night a new lair. Night views are involved in a variety of light sources. In the hot desert areas phalanx often come to light a fire, accumulate under the lights, get into lighted living room.

The phalanges are extremely voracious and eat a wide variety of animals, which only can cope, mainly insects and centipedes, spiders, woodlice, and others. They catch termites, gnawing through the wall of their buildings. Large phalanx attack on small lizards, nestlings of small birds, rodents young.

In fights with scorpions with equal amounts opponents usually wins phalanx. Mining lightning grasped, held firmly, broken and kneaded chelicerae. Some species are known in California as the spoilers hives. At night, making his way through the entrance is in the hive, a phalanx of destroying a large number of bees. The bottom of the hive covered their remains, and falagna with a bloated belly from an abundance of food ingested is not able to get out from the hive through the entrance is. bees morning zazhalivayut her death.

It is interesting that during the attack of the enemy phalanx frightening loud sound, obtained by contact and friction cheliceral each other.

Due to the specific shape of the body is extremely mobile and phalanx maneuvers. Some individuals are able to reach a speed of 16 km / h. It is their property led to the origin of one of the species names in English - "wind scorpion" ( "Scorpio wind).

Phalanx prefer the arid climate and desert terrain. Thus, most often they are found in the world's largest desert. Surprisingly, the phalanx almost common in Australia.

Major individual phalanx under the force to bite human skin and it makes phalanges dangerous to humans. The fact is that although there is no phalanges glands that produce the poison, and specific tools for its injection as their closest relatives - spiders and scorpions, but their jaws are often fragments of previous victims, rotting and thus - very toxic. When injected into the open wound the bite formed by decomposition of the substance can cause both local inflammation, and general blood poisoning. By itself, the phalanx bite even without consequences - something unpleasant and painful.

As a phalanx of squad have the following scientific names: Solpugida, Galeodea, Solifugae Sundevall, Mycetophorae. Phalanxes of vernacular names worth mentioning Russian variants - bihorki, solpugi - and English - wind scorpion, sun scorpion, camel spider, sun spider.

Since the phalanx of the most common in desert areas, and the coloring of them suitable for such a habitat - sandy-yellow or brownish-yellow, there are also lighter types. A few tropical species are brightly colored.

A feature solpug is their strong development of the tracheal system. The main tracheal trunks are opened paired spiracles on the abdomen at the rear edges of the second and third segments.

These arachnids in most cases active at night, but there is a sun-loving species. Most solpug hide from the light of day in shelters: under stones, in rodent burrows or dig themselves burrows itself.

With the onset of the breeding season, the male finds the female via the olfactory organs on the pedipalps. It goes pairing occurs at night. The male releases to the soil surface with an adhesive Spermatophores, then picks up his chelicerae and moves into the genital opening of the female. After that, it is better to get out, as a female after conception becomes very mobile and aggressive, and may eat the male.

After a while she goes to the construction of mink, which lays 30 to 200 eggs. Embryo development occurs in a female's oviducts, so out of eggs has little solpugi appear shortly. Before the first molts they are virtually immobile. But after their new covers are dismembered and harden, and body hair appears. The female is located next to the offspring until it will get stronger. Some suggest that it brings them food.

repellent picture of gluttony phalanges can be played if they contain them in captivity. If the phalanx to provide an unlimited amount of food, for example, bring it with tweezers insects it eats so much that the abdomen swells and may even burst. This is doomed to destruction falagna nevertheless continues to grab and eat food placed in the proximity to her until chelicera stop completely. The nature of such cases appears to be excluded: After eating phalanx enlarged abdomen loses its ability to chase prey, sooner than be satisfied too.