Jokingly, I made reference to an alien spider-like insect discovered on my property. I never encountered this type before.
Was it a beetle or was it a spider? I wrote the article hoping to receive an answer to this question.
As replies to the article arrived in my office, the search for the insect's identity narrowed.
Submitted photos and letters, along with a second detailed drawing rendered from my description, were sent to Barry Butler, Dean, College of Engineering, University of Iowa, and a good friend. He returned my query and determined that the insect was a cysteodemus armatus, known as desert spider beetle.
He sent a photograph closely matching the drawing, along with a summary of similar characteristics.
The information found is as follows:
The desert spider beetle can easily be confused for a spider with its rounded, wingless body. Its long legs allow it to move rapidly and lift its body away from hot sand and gravel. It is commonly reddish brown to black in color; sometimes yellow. The size ranges from 1/4 to 3/16 inches, and has a velvet appearance. The body is covered with short stiff hairs that easily break when touched.
Different varieties of the species are found worldwide living primarily on plants and animal remains. This variety is found in Arizona, Nevada and California.
I wish to thank The Record-Courier for printing the article and thank the readers for contributing their thoughts, photos, and literature.
Minden resident Donald E. Bently, P.E. is the president, chairman, and chief executive officer of Bently Agrowdynamics.
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