Sand Spiders in Iraq

[Capt. Anderson]

Originally posted by Phantom
Have you guys ever seen a "Dinner Plate" Tarantula? They certainly are proof that insects/spiders can be that big. Also, just learned about a Water bug from the Amazon River area, the thing can be up to 2 feet in length and feeds on Piranaha.

Good to know ones place in the food chain.

[Owen E Oulton]

Tobian - I was only counting the body length - legspan is usually cited specifically when talking about insects. The length of 5-7cm cited would be the body length, which is what I was looking at. The length of the bugs' bodies is about the same as the width of the soldier's wrist (not his cuff - I was only using that as a reference point to scroll to), which as you say is about 6 cm . Given the way his hand is positioned, the bug is a bit closer to the lense than the hand. It's certainly no smaller than 6cm, bit I don't think it's significantly larger, definitely within the normal length.

Still, it's a big bugger (pun intended).

[Phoenix]

Originally posted by JonA
Is there such a thing as a good looking arachnid/insect/pain-in-the-arse bug?

You've never seen an Emperor Scorpion have you, lovely killing machines...all glisining and black and deadly...

[tmutant]

There is also the possibility that photomanipulation may be involved. I hate to be a cynic, but...

Though closer examination does tend to indicate that the little bugger is smaller than the hand of the guy holding it. Just looks nasty. Maybe that's why it seems so big.

[Dr. Jonas Bashir]

Nice for a ceiling decoration...

Like Phantom said, in the Amazon rainforest, many species of spiders of a similar size exist and lurk there, but it's strange that large animals inhabit the desert, provided creatures there are as small as possible to avoid dehydration.

Perspective involved, yeah, it's small. Nothing to worry about. At least not for me.

[ComaBoy]

Originally posted by Dan Gurden
I think it can hear you Phantom.

Its... Looking... at me.

Good one Dan

Personally I might be tempted to empty a clip of 5.56 into the thing. Bugs eck!

[Balok]

Here's <a href="http://www.ecologicproductions.com/video_projects/TSCK/endangered/TSCK_spider.html">a clip of one</a> in action!