The Solpugid - Remarkable Arachnids

27/11/2023

We recently received a breeding group of the rarely kept and endangered giant vinegaroon species Mastigoproctus floridanus (Thelyphonidae, Hypoctoninae). This very interesting whip scorpion species is endemic to the lowlands of the subtropical sand pine scrublands on the Florida peninsula in the southeastern USA. The pictures 1 to 3 show our breeding male and the pictures 4 to 6 show an adult female.

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15/10/2023

Some new species from Mexico of the giant vinegaroon genus Mastigoproctus are described recently.

Mastigoproctus xetame Barrales-Alcalá & Francke, 2023 DOI: 10.1636/JoA-S-22-013 Abstract The giant vinegaroons of the genus Mastigoproc...

13/10/2023

Today we would like to introduce a new breeding project for our whip scorpions. We recently received a breeding group of the rarely kept species Hypoctonus javanicus (Thelyphonidae, Hypoctoninae). This pretty and relatively small arachnid species inhabits rainforests on the island of Java in southern Indonesia.

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02/10/2023

We have new updates on the breeding project of the whip spider species Damon variegatus (Phrynichidae, Damoninae).
During the last feeding of our adult breeding pair, we discovered several spermatophores in the terrarium. These stalked seed packets are deposited on the surface by the males during the mating dance and picked up by the females. The spermatophore stalk that remains is always reliable evidence that mating has taken place.

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19/09/2023

Today we would like to display important information about terrarium planting using the example of our rainforest terrarium for the whip spiders of the species Heterophrynus longicornis (Phrynidae, Heterophryninae).
As can be seen in these pictures of the non-toxic peacock plant Goeppertia makoyana (Marantaceae), most terrarium plants are eaten by the food animals (e.g. locusts and crickets). When stocking a terrarium with poisonous plant species, it is important to ensure that these are not eaten by the food animals, as eating poisoned prey can also lead to potentially fatal poisoning of the arachnids.

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14/09/2023

We have new updates on the breeding project of the whip spider species Heterophrynus longicornis (Phrynidae, Heterophryninae). Since the adult molt of our pair there have been several spermatophores in the terrarium. During the mating dance, these stalked seed packets are deposited on the surface by the male and picked up by the female. After successful mating, only the stalk of the spermatophore remains, as shown in these pictures.

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09/09/2023

A whip spider of the species Heterophrynus longicornis (Phrynidae, Heterophryninae) explores the environment in the tree hole. The long and sensitive whips are used to scan the environment for potential prey or threats.

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04/09/2023

An adult whip spider of the species Damon medius (Phrynichidae, Damoninae) after moulting. Part 3. These pictures show the animal approximately sixteen hours after moulting. The hardening of the exoskeleton has progressed significantly and the body color is visibly darker.

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31/08/2023

A juvenile whip spider of the species Phrynichus ceylonicus (Phrynichidae, Phrynichinae) after moulting into the second instar. Part 2. These pictures show the animal approximately twelve hours after moulting. The hardening of the exoskeleton is complete and the final camouflage of the species at this stage is fully developed. As a result, the arachnid is well protected again and can go hunting for prey.

27/08/2023

A juvenile whip spider of the species Phrynichus ceylonicus (Phrynichidae, Phrynichinae) after moulting into the second instar. Part 1. These pictures show the animal a few minutes after moulting. In this phase, the arachnids are very sensitive to external influences and hide in a safe shelter until the coloring and hardening of the exoskeleton is complete.

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25/08/2023

Here comes an update on our breeding project in the whip scorpions of an unidentified species of the genus Typopeltis (Thelyphonidae, Typopeltinae) from Thailand. One of our females burried herself and produced an egg sack. In this phase, the animals are particularly sensitive to external influences. The slightest disturbance can already lead to the mother animal discarding and eating the egg packet.

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24/08/2023

A freshly moulted whip spider of the species Heterophrynus longicornis (Phrynidae, Heterophryninae) explores the surroundings. Due to the sensitivity to external influences, the arachnids are very shy and especially cautious during this period.

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20/08/2023

An adult whip spider of the species Damon medius (Phrynichidae, Damoninae) after moulting. Part 2. These pictures show the animal approximately four hours after moulting. The coloring of the still soft and sensitive exoskeleton has progressed further and the color pigments of the basic coloring are clearly visible.

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18/08/2023

An adult whip spider of the species Damon medius (Phrynichidae, Damoninae) after moulting. Part 1. These pictures show the arachnid a few minutes after moulting. The exoskeleton is still soft and very sensitive to external influences. The color pigments are completely absent. A gradual discoloration occurs with increasing hardening.

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15/08/2023

These pictures show a freshly moulted hatchling of the whip spider species Damon variegatus (Phrynichidae, Damoninae). Immediately after moulting, the exoskeleton is still soft and very susceptible to injuries. The body colours are also very strong and become more and more pale with increasing hardening.

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11/08/2023

When disturbed, these whip spiders of the species Damon medius (Phrynichidae, Damoninae) remain motionless in hiding and hope for camouflage at first. With the flat body shape and greyish or brownish body colouration, whip spiders are perfectly adapted to life on tree trunks and cave walls. Up to a point, these animals can even adapt their body coloration to the underground, e.g. lighter coloration on light tree bark or darker coloration on dark cave walls.

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06/08/2023

A giant whip scorpion of an unidentified Thelyphonus species (Thelyphonidae, Thelyphoninae) has captured a locust. The prey was grabbed with the powerful pincers and pulled into the burrow, where it can now be eaten undisturbed.

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03/08/2023

A female of the giant whip spider species Euphrynichus amanica (Phrynichidae, Phrynichinae) explores the area at the entrance to the tree hole with the very long whips. These delicate tactile tools are a special adaptation of the strictly nocturnal whip spiders to life in total darkness.

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28/07/2023

A spectacular new whip spider species in the ancestral family Paracharontidae has been newly described. So far, only the species Paracharon caecus from West Africa was known as the only recent representative of this group. With the new genus and species Jorottui ipuanai from Colombia, a second extant species of this primeval whip spider family has now been discovered as a living fossil. The fragmented distribution in West Africa and northern South America is due to the origin of the relictal Paracharontidae on the prehistoric southern continent Gondwana.

Jorottui ipuanai Moreno-González, Gutierrez-Estrada & Prendini, 2023 DOI: 10.1206/4000.1 digitallibrary. AMNH .org Abstract The a...

27/07/2023

A whip scorpion of an unidentified Thelyphonus species (Thelyphonidae, Thelyphoninae) cleans the delicate tactile whips with the brush-like mouthparts. On the detailed portrait, the segmentation at the end of the whips can be clearly seen. These short segments are densely covered with very sensitive tactile hairs and can sense even the smallest vibrations.

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23/07/2023

These pictures show a freshly moulted adult male of the whip spider species Damon diadema (Phrynichidae, Damoninae). This more commonly held but rarely bred arachnid species inhabits coastal rainforests and moist tree savannas as well as nearby caves in Kenya and Tanzania northwards to Somalia and Ethiopia.

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20/07/2023

These pictures show a female of the giant whip spider species Euphrynichus amanica (Phrynichidae, Phrynichinae) exploring the environment inside the tree hole. With the very long whips, a relatively large radius around the animal can be scanned.

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12/07/2023

These pictures show the female of our new breeding pair of Heterophrynus longicornis (Phrynidae, Heterophryninae). This rarely kept whip spider species lives in big holes of rainforest trees as soon as in tropical caves in northeastern South America and needs continuously high temperatures between 25 and 28 degrees Celsius and a constantly high humidity of more than 80 percent for successful reproduction.

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09/07/2023

The breeding season for our tropical giant whip scorpions has begun. First up is a female of an unidentified Thelyphonus species (Thelyphonidae, Thelyphoninae) from Malaysia. The pregnant females bury themselves completely in a burrow in the ground. From this point on, the animals may no longer be dug up, as they will eat up the egg packet again if they are disturbed.

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09/07/2023

Here are some close-ups of one of our female giant whip spiders of the species Euphrynichus amanica (Phrynichidae, Phrynichinae). The animals are very shy and flee deep into a tree hollow at the slightest disturbance. Therefore it is relatively difficult to take good pictures of this species.

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06/07/2023

A pair of the rarely kept whip spider Heterophrynus longicornis (Phrynidae, Heterophryninae) is new to our collection. This pretty species inhabits caves and big tree holes in the rainforest areas of northeastern South America. We hope for good breeding successes of this interesting arachnids in the long term.

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06/07/2023

This picture shows a juvenile whip scorpion of an unknown Typopeltis species (Thelyphonidae, Typopeltinae) with a preyed giant darkling beetle (Zophobas morio). With the powerful pincers, even very large prey can be captured up to the own body size.

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26/06/2023

The rarely kept and threatened species Euphrynichus amanica (Phrynchidae, Phrynichinae) is one of the largest representatives of the African whip spiders. Here are a few pictures to compare sizes. The span between the outstretched pedipalps can be more than 35 cm. The range of both whips together is more than 50 cm.

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24/06/2023

Interesting insight into the burrow of a whip scorpion of an unknown Thelyphonus species (Thelyphonidae, Thelyphoninae). It is clearly recognizable how the environment at the cave entrance is scanned with the sensitive whips.

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