Bug FAQIberian Solifugid
Gluvia dorsalis · Order: Solifugae · Family: Daesiidae
Also called: Iberian camel spider
Gluvia dorsalis is a nocturnal solifuge that lives in open semi-desert areas such as pseudo-steppes and pastures on the Iberian Peninsula. It mainly hunts other arthropods, especially ants and spiders, and females greatly outnumber males in the population.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Its eyes are very close together, about half the length of each eye. It lacks the enlarged hair on the first leg segment that is present in Gluvia brunnea.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It prefers open, semi-desert habitats like pseudo-steppes, pastures and low-shrub slopes. During the day it hides in crevices or debris and comes out at night.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
It feeds mainly on other arthropods, preferring prey without chemical defenses. Common prey include ants of the genera Tapinoma and Messor, as well as spiders; it also sometimes eats members of its own species.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The population is heavily skewed toward females.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are active from late May through early November, especially when conditions are warm and dry.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is endemic to the Iberian Peninsula.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It can be confused with Gluvia brunnea, but G. dorsalis has yellow markings on its palps and legs, whereas G. brunnea is uniformly brown on the dorsal side.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
How can I tell Gluvia dorsalis apart from similar species?
Look for yellow areas on the palps and legs; the similar Gluvia brunnea is completely brown on its back.
Source: Wikipedia
Where does Gluvia dorsalis live?
It lives in open semi-desert habitats such as pseudo-steppes, pastures and low-shrub slopes, and is endemic to the Iberian Peninsula.
Source: Wikipedia
What does Gluvia dorsalis eat?
It hunts other arthropods, especially ants (Tapinoma and Messor) and spiders, and may also eat other members of its own species.
Source: Wikipedia
When is Gluvia dorsalis active?
Adults are active from late May to early November, preferring warm, dry periods.
Source: Wikipedia
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gluvia_dorsalis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.