Insects and Arachnids

[FiremouthXSalvini]

Well, I may not keep any insects, but while I volunteer at the El Paso Zoo, I am allowed to hold Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches, which are really interesting in my opinion. And while there, I have learn about the Goliath Bird Eating Tarantula, Giant Cave Cockroach, Zebra Tarantula, Baboon Tarantula, and the madagascar hissing cockroaches. So, if anyone has any questions about Insects and arachnids, you can ask me if you want to.

 

[wild caught]

i volunteer at the world aquarium here in st. louis and i also have one on one encounters with the "big bugs." the mads. are kooler than south americans. iv never seen a cave roach

 

[loach43]

Cool. What other spiders do they have? There is a type of spider (I can't remember what it's called) that has no eyes and lives in completely darkened caves. I think they are only found in Mexico and are pretty rare. Any of those being kept in captivity? thx

 

[guppy]

Hiya and welcome to MFK,
By Giant Cave Cockroach do you refer to Blaberus Gigantus from West Indies, and Panama Through northern South America. Cool Critters. So are these Mexican "Cave Spiders" though I have a feeling they are not true spiders

 

[loach43]

Hmm, that's definately a different cave spider than what I was thinking. I remember seeing a show on PBS with one that looked more like a tarantula (hairy). The super fine hairs served as sensory perceptors that detected really slight movement to find food. Absolutely zero eyes which made it look unpredictable and scary!
btw, what would define a true spider? thx

 

[davo]

they are definately a spider, and are the most closely related to that of the first generations of spider and closely related to scorpians. They are extrememly agressive towards one another, very territorial. i watched a documentary on them a week ago, sure.

 

[loach43]

Well, spider yes! I was just wondering what a true spider is in the scientific sense of the word. In the insect world, there is an order called Hemiptera otherwise known as true bugs, i.e., stink bugs, squash bugs, assasin bugs etc. To call these bugs by common name is ok, but to call a lady beetle a lady bug would be a no no from an entomologists point of view. I was wondering if the same concept applies to arachnids.

 

[guppy]

Well, spider yes! I was just wondering what a true spider is in the scientific sense of the word. In the insect world, there is an order called Hemiptera otherwise known as true bugs, i.e., stink bugs, squash bugs, assasin bugs etc. To call these bugs by common name is ok, but to call a lady beetle a lady bug would be a no no from an entomologists point of view. I was wondering if the same concept applies to arachnids.

I just checked and the picture I posted (although called cave spiders) was of a critter from a different order, true spiders are Order Aranea and have Pedipalps, 8 legs, silk glands, venom, an abdomen, and a cephalothorax.
These are Order Amblypiygi and lack silk glands and venom, and have grasping arms instead of pedipalps, here are pics of a couple other species. They are tailless whip scorpions.

There are a couple of tarantula like spiders that are associated with caves like this one from central America.

 

[USMCtanker]

wow can i get some for a tank that has a black light . that would be sweet

 

[Snake_Eyes]

I keep both tarantula's and scorpion's, the ones I currently keep are...

Scorpion's
Hadrurus arizonensis
Parabuthus transvaalicus
Vaejovis sp

Tarantula's
Pterinochilus murinus RCF
Haplopelma lividum



I keep snakes as well.