You decide, frankly I think I may be under-estimating their size.
Actually, this is two spiders, if you look at the middle of the photo you can see where the two of them are locked together.
Frankly, even though I have no fear of bugs or snakes or other creepy crawlers, these things weird me out beyond all reason. They really aren't dangerous, just freaky as all hell - bugs should not be that dammed big.
Spiders like that are on the list of reasons I continue to live up here.
ReplyDelete::shudders::
I never had the pleasure of encountering one of these when I was in the Middle East. And I'm okay with that. Really.
ReplyDeleteWhen I lived in Hawaii, our barracks would be inundated with Cane Spiders every time they would burn the fields around the base, which was bad enough.
While these are icky, though, the worst (for me) was the pier rats at the Mina Salman Pier in Bahrain. They were huge...the biggest rats I have ever seen.
I don't care for rats.
*shudders*
I'd forgotten completely about the rats in Bahrain. You're right, Janiece, those were some dammed big rodents, but not the biggest I've seen. That distinction goes to the sewer rats in Naples, Italy. I was there in the mid-80's when the garbage men were on strike (for about a month), and garage was piled to the 2nd story in the alleys. Rats were coming up out of the ancient Roman sewers in broad daylight. I swear those things were the size of dogs.
ReplyDeleteI think I'll stay out of the Naples sewers, then. Ew.
ReplyDeleteRats I can handle. Even dog sized rats. The spiders in your picture (or Janiece's link) however, freak the ever loving begeebers out of me.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm the household spider squisher -- but I think I'd relinquish my duties if those sorts of things came a crawling.
Every once in a while I'll see a Wolf Spider (no link, that might just be the common name here) that grow to about the size of a hand, but that includes legs. They're also very rare, so I pretend they don't exist.
Bees, however, they'll make me scream like a little girl and run like a cheetah. A sight to be seen, or so I'm told.
Hey, Jim and Janiece! As part of my Remembrance Day observances I try to contact my friends and such that have been or are in the service and say thank you.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'd say we're all really more acquaintances than friends, but I do rather like both of you, so..
Thank you.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled feeling creeped out by that big-ass creepy bug picture.
Thank you, Tania. I appreciate being remembered. *nudges Jim*
ReplyDeleteWhat? Keep your hands to yourself, Janiece, quit pinching me. I slept in, it's some kind of holiday today ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tania. Always nice to be remembered.
Jim, stop being such a baby. Jeez.
ReplyDeleteSettle down, or I'm turning this car around...
ReplyDeleteI *like* spiders and even I'm getting the heebie jeebies lookin' at those two monsters. I love how you give us a nice big picture, Jim, to make sure we appreciate the detail. :P
She started it.
ReplyDeleteAaa-aane...Jim's touching me. And he's on my side of the car!
ReplyDeleteDid you get rid of the spiders, honey?
ReplyDeleteNope, I'm charging them rent.
You guys are too funny. :)
ReplyDeleteAre we there yet? I've got to go the baaathroooom!
ReplyDeleteHow many more miles???
ReplyDeleteActually, while those are big spiders, they aren't much bigger than your hand. They are just closer to the camera than it seems. See the size of the sleeve on the right, which is the sleeve of the person holding the spiders.
ReplyDeleteSnopes has an entry on this particular picture: http://www.snopes.com/photos/bugs/camelspider.asp
Tom, you're right. I've had the pleasure of seeing them in person. They're big, but not so big as they appear in this picture.
ReplyDeleteThis picture is deceptive due to the perspective and aperture settings. However, if you look at the very top of the picture you can just see the tips of the Gerber Tool the Soldier is using to hold the top spider, which gives the picture proper perspective. They're the biggest dammed bugs I've ever seen, even if they're not the length of your leg.