Hello everyone,
A few months ago, I learned of the 12 arachnid orders and was fascinated, both by their taxonomic classification and the diversity/rarity of some of the more obscure ones.
As a result, I decided to embark on a quest to collect, study, and keep all 12 arachnid orders. My goal is to be able to keep and possibly even breed them in captivity!
For this project, local species are preferred so I can replicate their natural conditions easily/be able to release them back where I found them. However, I decided to allow myself to buy some specimens, particularly Amblypygi and Uropygi as neither order is native to my area.
The only exception to keeping the arachnids alive is Parasitiformes-- I know that there are non-parasitic members of this order, but I want a tick as a representative.
All 12 orders are listed below. The ones with a “
” emoji are not native to my area.
Today, I hit the 8/12 (8 out of 12 orders) mark, which means so much to me! I have included photos of each order and their respective representative specimen below.
Araneae - Curly Hair Tarantula (Tliltocatl albopilosus)
Scorpiones - Silvestri's Scorpion (Paruroctonus silvestrii)
Solifugae - Solifugid (Unknown sp.)
Opiliones - Harvestman (Protolophus sp.)
Uropygi - Texas Giant Vinegaroon (Mastigoproctus sp.)
Amblypygi - Nicaraguan Whipspider (Phrynus maesi)
Pseudoscorpiones - Pseudoscorpion (Cheliferidae sp.)
Acariformes - Sidewalk Mites (Balaustium sp.)
Notes
From the start of this challenge, the order in which I completed the checklist was: Uropygi, Scorpiones, Amblypygi, Araneae, Opiliones, Pseudoscorpiones, Solifugae, and Acariformes.
The easiest order to find was obviously Araneae. I normally would keep a local species, but I love my Curly Hair so much that I had to put her as the representative. Acariformes was also extremely easy; it was just hard to find a good representative species that I actually wanted to keep (unlike grain mites).
Scorpiones wasn’t bad; it was annoying to look for them at first but I eventually found a spot in my area that always had some Uroctonus mordax. I should have used that species as a representative, but my Paruroctonus silvestrii was out, and I took advantage of that.
Opiliones was kind of a lucky accident; they are super active at the park I go bughunting at so I was able to snatch up a few and start a colony. I’m already in love with these guys; they are so cute and endearing!
Uropygi and Amblypygi were easy because I bought them. The latter was kind of annoying to find, but I ended up with some beautiful Phrynus maesi. Uropygi are really easy to find in my area as well as online, so there was no problem with that. In fact, the specimen in the photo (“Lavender”) was the first serious arachnid pet I ever had.
Of all the local orders, Pseudoscorpiones and Solifugae were by far the hardest to find. I only know the former order from one specific location at my park, and I can only find the latter by walking trails late in the evening and hoping my eyes catch one of those tiny 1-centimeter buggers. Both orders are also highly seasonal and come out pretty late-- not the most convenient for someone who can't drive!
Schizomida is not native to my area and is also very rare and obscure. However, there are consistent records around the San Diego area, which I may visit sometime in the next year or so.
Finally, there is Ricinulei. To be honest, I have no idea where to start with these guys. I want to avoid going out of the US for obvious reasons, so perhaps southern Texas is my best bet. It would be a long trip though, and probably something I won't be able to do for a decade or more... I just have to keep the dream going.
And that's it! Wish me luck with the rest of this quest; I hope to learn more about this amazing class and all 12 of its amazing orders.
Thanks.
A few months ago, I learned of the 12 arachnid orders and was fascinated, both by their taxonomic classification and the diversity/rarity of some of the more obscure ones.
As a result, I decided to embark on a quest to collect, study, and keep all 12 arachnid orders. My goal is to be able to keep and possibly even breed them in captivity!
For this project, local species are preferred so I can replicate their natural conditions easily/be able to release them back where I found them. However, I decided to allow myself to buy some specimens, particularly Amblypygi and Uropygi as neither order is native to my area.
The only exception to keeping the arachnids alive is Parasitiformes-- I know that there are non-parasitic members of this order, but I want a tick as a representative.
All 12 orders are listed below. The ones with a “
” emoji are not native to my area.- Amblypygi
- Araneae
- Opiliones
- Palpigradi
- Pseudoscorpiones
- Ricinulei
- Schizomida
- Scorpiones
- Solifugae
- Uropygi
- Acariformes
- Parasitiformes
Today, I hit the 8/12 (8 out of 12 orders) mark, which means so much to me! I have included photos of each order and their respective representative specimen below.
Araneae - Curly Hair Tarantula (Tliltocatl albopilosus)
Scorpiones - Silvestri's Scorpion (Paruroctonus silvestrii)
Solifugae - Solifugid (Unknown sp.)
Opiliones - Harvestman (Protolophus sp.)
Uropygi - Texas Giant Vinegaroon (Mastigoproctus sp.)
Amblypygi - Nicaraguan Whipspider (Phrynus maesi)
Pseudoscorpiones - Pseudoscorpion (Cheliferidae sp.)
Acariformes - Sidewalk Mites (Balaustium sp.)
Notes
The easiest order to find was obviously Araneae. I normally would keep a local species, but I love my Curly Hair so much that I had to put her as the representative. Acariformes was also extremely easy; it was just hard to find a good representative species that I actually wanted to keep (unlike grain mites).
Scorpiones wasn’t bad; it was annoying to look for them at first but I eventually found a spot in my area that always had some Uroctonus mordax. I should have used that species as a representative, but my Paruroctonus silvestrii was out, and I took advantage of that.
Opiliones was kind of a lucky accident; they are super active at the park I go bughunting at so I was able to snatch up a few and start a colony. I’m already in love with these guys; they are so cute and endearing!
Uropygi and Amblypygi were easy because I bought them. The latter was kind of annoying to find, but I ended up with some beautiful Phrynus maesi. Uropygi are really easy to find in my area as well as online, so there was no problem with that. In fact, the specimen in the photo (“Lavender”) was the first serious arachnid pet I ever had.
Of all the local orders, Pseudoscorpiones and Solifugae were by far the hardest to find. I only know the former order from one specific location at my park, and I can only find the latter by walking trails late in the evening and hoping my eyes catch one of those tiny 1-centimeter buggers. Both orders are also highly seasonal and come out pretty late-- not the most convenient for someone who can't drive!
Next Steps
This leaves just four arachnid orders for me to collect: Parasitiformes, Palpigradi, Schizomida, and the notorious Ricinulei. Parasitiformes is easy because it is unfortunately tick season; I'm sure me or one of my friends will eventually find one. Palpigradi is an extremely rare and little-known order, but it is known from my area. Although I'm fairly sure that the one species described (Prokoenenia californica) is extinct, I am hopeful that I can find some more of these arachnids one day. I just have to stay positive!
Schizomida is not native to my area and is also very rare and obscure. However, there are consistent records around the San Diego area, which I may visit sometime in the next year or so.
Finally, there is Ricinulei. To be honest, I have no idea where to start with these guys. I want to avoid going out of the US for obvious reasons, so perhaps southern Texas is my best bet. It would be a long trip though, and probably something I won't be able to do for a decade or more... I just have to keep the dream going.
And that's it! Wish me luck with the rest of this quest; I hope to learn more about this amazing class and all 12 of its amazing orders.
Thanks.
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