Found scorpion in my pizza, what kind is it?
Hello,
This scorpion was in my pizza last night. I know nothing about them. Can you tell me what kind it is and where it might have came from? Incidentally, Pizza Hut is lacking in answers on this one.
Katherine Sheppard
Hi Katherine,
We haven’t answered your question because we are not sure what species of scorpion you found. We can tell you that there is a danger of being stung, but there are only a few species in the U.S. that are truly dangerous. None are a pleasant experience though. This has to be one of the craziest letters we have ever gotten.
¶ Posted 03 August 2005 § ‡ ° could you tell me what that is?
I found this bug in the anza borrego desert. Could you tell me what it is? Also, could you recomment a good field guide for spiders???
thanks.
anja.
Hi Anja,
Your arthropod is a Solpugid, known commonly as Sun Spiders or Wind Scorpions. They are harmless. Sorry, we don’t know of a good Field Guide for exclusively spiders. You might want to contact the Audubon Guide folks and see if they have one in the works.
¶ Posted 07 July 2005 § ‡ ° whats that bug
what’s that bug? spider like? black apx 4" spread between it’s legs? Quick. Phoenix AZ
Hi Phoenix,
You have a great photo of a Tailless Whipscorpion, Family Tarantulidae, genus Tarantula. Whipscorpions are usually found in damp places, indoors in basements and shower stalls. They are nocturnal hunters and harmless to people. WE are assuming that the word “Quick” in your brief query referred to the movement of the creature and not to a demand on our part for an answer. They do scurry sidewise quickly if approached. Thay range in color from pale to dark blackish brown, deopending on the time since the last molt. They eat insects and spiders as well as other arthropods.
¶ Posted 06 July 2005 § ‡ ° Mexico
Hey Bugmaster
I’m in Mexico for a study abroad, and I came across this bug and had NO idea what the heck it might be. I watched it for about an hour and tried to put other insects in with it to see its reaction, it hated ants and didnt bother with a cockroach. P.S.- you may have to zoom in 100% to get a good view of it and the flash dosent do much for the coloration of the insect but it really shows its body structure well.
Thanks!!!
Tommy C.
Hi Tommy,
You have sent in a photo of a Tailless Whip-Scorpion, Family Tarantulidae. They are denizens of the humid tropics. They are nocturnal, often living under stones and bark. They are predatory, feeding on insects and arthropods. They are not venomous
¶ Posted 22 June 2005 § ‡ ° What’s this bug!
Hi I live in New Mexico, and while remodeling an old building my grandfather found two weird big bugs. He decided to hand them over to me, I’ve had them for over a year and I am still curious in finding out what they are. Here are some pictures, I hope you can help me out. To describe them more, they are about the size of standard size tweezers and are dark brown in color, they have claws much like a scorpion but a tail like a cocroach, long and slender. Please help me out.
nat
Hi Nat,
Your critters are Giant Vinegarones, also known as Grampus, Mastigoproctus giganteus. They are Whip Scorpions in the Family Thelyphonidae. They are found in the South and Southwest and are rarely seen since they hide during the day. Despite their fearsome appearance, they are harmless.
¶ Posted 11 June 2005 § ‡ ° Spider?
Hello – Please find the attached photo of a spider (?) that we found in our bungalow sink on the tropical coast of Oaxaca, Mexico in October. This spider’s body was .5 – 1 inch wide. What are the long antennae-like structures? Do they bite? Thanks so much,
Will Bellomy
Hi Will,
Thanks for sending in a photo of a Tailless Whip-Scorpion from the Family Tarantulidae, Order Pedipalpida or sometimes Order Amblypygi. Arachnid relatives of spiders and scorpions. Several species are also found in the continental U.S. They are not poisonous, and despite their fierce appearance, they will not bite. They are nocturnal hunters that often run sideways. They prey on small arthropods.
¶ Posted 17 December 2004 § ‡ ° Scorpion and Hummingbird clearwing moth
Hello, Mr. Bugman
Thanks so much for your informative site. It is the best I have found for straight information.
I came for the ID of a scorpion that had stung me in my home (by the way, its sting was painful at first, but the swelling and itching got worse for about a week and then got better for about another week). Here it is.
Anyway, while I was looking through the letters and photos here, I saw the photos from Dorothy in Alaska of a clearwing moth. I saw the exact same thing (two of them) feeding on my backyard flowers this Spring, in east-central Alabama. Dorothy’s photos came out clearer than mine did, but that was the bug, all right. As I recall, the clearwings I saw had huge, paddle-like rear feet that hung down as they flew. This was only my second time to see this type of insect; are they uncommon in the South?
Thanks again for your cool site.
Joe
Pell City, AL
Hi Joe,
I can’t be positive about the scorpion, but here is a shot. I would venture on Vaejovis carolinianus The Southern Unstriped Scorpions. The sting is reported to be like a pin prick. They are native to the Southeastern United States including Alabama.
¶ Posted 05 July 2004 § ‡ ° Hi Bugman-
In 1980, I lived in Sausalito, California. One night as I watched theevening news a fairly large creature crawled across my kitchen floor. It was dark, jointed, I believe it had what appeared to be pinchers, and I swear it hissed at me when I swept it out onto the deck. The Giant Vinegaroon looks very much like what I remember. My question is are they found in the San Francisco Bay Area?
Phil Nast
Dear Phil,
24 years is a long time to wait for an answer. The Vinegaroon or Giant Whip Scorpion, Mastigoproctus giganteus, is listed as ranging in the South and SouthWest. I would say it is entirely possible that one could have been in Sausalito, especially since they are often kept as pets and pets escape. This is one of the ways that natural ranges are extended to include new locations with hospitable climates. I have gotten reports of tarantulas and scorpions hissing, and it is possible that the Vinegaroon can also stridulate, defined as the rubbing together of body parts which produces a hissing type sound. Hope that answers your questions.
Daniel-
Thanks for the answer. I have searched insect books over those 24 years without much luck. I saw many tarantulas in Southern California, but the scorpions I saw were all small. I remember this being 3-4 inches, of course time and my horror might have added to its length.
Phil
Hi Phil,
Our sources state that the Giant Vinegaroon can reach five inches in length, so yours was a small one.
¶ Posted 17 February 2004 § ‡ ° 
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