Question
I found a wierd looking spider in my driveway, so I tried to identify it on line, and the closest thing it looks like is a camel spider, it is about 1 inch long, 1/4 inch wide, and it seems to have teeth on the front of its head, and they are larger than the head, it is brown in color, I live outside of Salt Lake City, utah, should I be concerned? p.s. I have it trapped under a cup, but my camera doesn't seem to focus on it.

Answer
Vicki,

A picture would confirm the id but it does sound like a camel spider, also called sun spider, wind scorpion or solifugid. These arthropods are common in deserts worldwide. They are not venomous but like any large arthropod they can bite if handled.

Here's a link to additional information about an "urban legend" that has sprung up around camel spiders and the war in Iraq http://www.livingwithbugs.com/camel_sp.html that may be interesting.

Also, here's a wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solifugae about these critters.

Jack DeAngelis, PhD
Extension Entomologist (ret.)
My website about home and garden pests: http://www.livingwithbugs.com