Costa Rican Scary Bug!!
Location: Mal Pais, Costa Rica
November 7, 2010 3:18 pm
Just got back from Costa Rica. This bug was crawling at night above the door to our bungalow in Mal Pais. I would have liked to get a photo with some sort of size reference, but honestly, this thing scared the heck out of me and I didn’t want to get close. It looks like some sort of spider/scorpion/grasshopper beast. I called it ”Black Death.” What do you call it?
Signature: Ben, Chicago, IL
Tailless Whipscorpion
Hi Ben,
Though it might look scary, the Tailless Whipscorpion is perfectly harmless. Unlike other venomous Arachnids like spiders and scorpions, the Tailless Whipscorpion does not possess venom. It is a shy nocturnal hunter that will keep the Cockroach population down as it patrols rooms at night.
¶ Posted 07 November 2010 § ‡ ° Tanzanian 10 legged spider with claws
November 4, 2010 3:15 am
Dear Bugman,
I am living in a tropical coastal region of north Tanzania, there are all sorts of interesting bugs here (wadudu in Swahili!) but I thought this one was especially good and was wondering if you could help me identify it. It seems to have 10 legs; the front two with hooks or claws and the next row back being much longer and thinner. Probably about 10cm leg span. I thought it might be a Solifugae of some kind but haven’t found anything online which looks similar.
Looking forward to your thoughts,
Signature: Olly
Whipscorpion
Hi Olly,
This is a Tailless Whipscorpion in the order Amblypygi, and despite its name, it is perfectly harmless since it does not have venom. They are shy nocturnal hunters. BugGuide describes them as: “Spiderlike Large pincer-like, powerful and spiny claws used for capturing prey Wide head and thorax Flattenned overall appearance No spinnerets First pair of legs are very long and whiplike and function like antennae Eight eyes.“
¶ Posted 04 November 2010 § ‡ ° Scorpion floresence
Location: Naches, WA
November 2, 2010 1:18 pm
Thought you should have some pictures of scorpion florescence under UV. I was surprised that these scorpions are fairly common on rocky arid ground around Yakima in Eastern Washington. Don’t know the exact species or the sting hazard, but it seems like a big tail, smallish pincher. Around 1.75 inches with tail.
Also see: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=211481&id=748938972
Signature: Paul Huffman, President-for-Life, Moclips Surf Club
Northern Scorpion under Black Light
Hi Paul,
Thanks for your wonderful image of a Scorpion glowing under black light. We suspect it is the Northern Scorpion, Paruroctonus boreus, which we determined upon locating a website with images of the Northern Scorpions photographed in Washington. ENature has some information on the species, including: “Most scorpions are not dangerous and do not attack people. If disturbed, they will inflict a sting that can cause painful swelling, but the poison of most North American species is not lethal to people.“ According to BugGuide, it is: “Highly variable throughout its range, and depending on habitat. Throughout much of its range it is the only scorpion found. It has the basic identifiers of Paruroctonus scorpions, such as relatively robust hands and a somewhat slender metasoma/tail in which the keels do not terminate in an enlarged denticle. In most areas it is pale, light brown. In volcanic habitats it can be quite dark with a striped tail.“ According to AnswerBag: “All scorpions glow in the dark—even after death, even fossilized! A thin, transparent film (hyaline) in the outermost layer (cuticle) of their exoskeleton contains a protein that fluoresces. At night in the Arizona desert, you can see scorpions within a 20-foot radius by shining a black (ultraviolet) light around. They glow bright green-blue or green-yellow like scorpion jewels. Newly molted scorpions don’t fluoresce. As the cuticle hardens, it glows more. The hylane skin toughens into an incredible substance. After hundreds of millions of years, after all other cuticle layers are lost, the hyaline layer remains, fossilized in rocks. It still glows. We don’t know why scorpions fluoresce. Maybe it helps the antisocial creatures locate each other in the dark and either stay away (usually) or find a mate. Scorpions hunt at night and gladly eat fellow scorpions. In fact, mating is an extremely dangerous activity (to the smaller, usually male, partner).“ The reasons Scorpions glow under black light is not fully understood, and this is an excellent posting for us to tag as a Mystery.
Haitian bug
Location: Haitia
October 31, 2010 8:55 pm
Hi, i would like to identify this bug by curiosity. I know this picture was taken in haitia, between 2-3 inch long without the abdomen antena. Well i cant wait to know more about this one 
thank you
Signature: Xavier Fleurant
Giant Vinegaroon
Hello Xavier,
This fierce looking but harmless creature is a Giant Vinegaroon, a name we prefer to the name Whipscorpion because that conjures up the impression that it is a venomous creature, which it is not. Giant Vinegaroons are shy, nocturnal hunters that feast on Cockroaches and other undesirable creatures that they encounter on their nightly hunts. The common name Vinegaroon refers to the creature’s habit of expelling a weak solution of acetic acid when threatened which smells like vinegar, another form of acetic acid.
¶ Posted 01 November 2010 § ‡ ° please identify
Location: Dominican Republic
October 19, 2010 2:54 am
My friend found this bug in his place in the Dominican Republic. It is about 10 cm (3 inches) long. Any idea what it is?
Signature: Sharon
Giant Vinegaroon
Dear Sharon,
This shy, nocturnal predator is a Tailless Whipscorpion, sometimes called a Giant Vinegaroon because it releases a mild acetic acid that smells like vinegar. Despite the appearance, the Giant Vinegaroon will not harm people or pets unless the pets are Cockroaches.
¶ Posted 19 October 2010 § ‡ ° hurry and look please
Location: Southwest Central NM
September 30, 2010 11:54 pm
Seriously this thing freaks me out and its in my garage
Signature: adam
Giant Vinegaroon
Hi Adam,
Despite its fearsome appearance, the Giant Vinegaroon, Mastigoproctus giganteus, is perfectly harmless. Also known as a Whipscorpion, it is a shy, nocturnal predator that has no venom, unlike its distant relatives the true Scorpions. Like many creatures, it might bite if carelessly handled, but we must stress that it does not have venom. This is what BugGuide indicates: “The vinegaroon is nocturnal and has poor vision. The whiplike tail is used as a sensory organ, as is the first pair of legs, which is not used for walking. Although its tail in unable to sting, this creature can spray an acidic mist from a scent gland at the base of the tail when disturbed. The spray is 85% concentrated acetic acid/vinegar, hence the common name ‘Vinegaroon.’ The heavy pinching mouthparts (modified pedipalps) can also inflict a painful bite. Although very unlikely to attack humans, it can certainly defend itself if provoked.”
¶ Posted 01 October 2010 § ‡ ° Scorpion in Glendale
Location: Verdugo Woodlands, Glendale, CA
August 18, 2010 2:00 am
I found this on my daughter’s dress right before she was going to wear it in the morning (Thank God I found it!). We were staying at my parents’ house in the Verdugo Woodlands of Glendale. What type of scorpion is it? Is it harmful to kids 3 and younger? I have a 2 year old and a 7 month old. Very nervous to go back to their home and stay the night if they don’t get a pest controller to take care of the critters…if we found one in the house, would there be more? (This is the first time they have encountered scorpions after living there for 12 years).
Eva Cherrie
Stripe-Tailed Scorpion
Hi Eva,
First off, we are giving you a nonprofessional opinion based on a blurry photo. Our opinion is in no way meant to imply that a sting from what we believe to be a Stripe-Tailed Scorpion according to Charles Hogue in Insects of the Los Angeles Basin, or according to BugGuide, the California Common Scorpion, Paruroctonus silvestrii, would be perfectly harmless, but we also do not want to make you unnecessarily paranoid. According to Hogue, “The species stings readily but without doing lasting harm.” Should any of your children get stung by a Scorpion, you should probably seek professional help though there is probably no cause for great concern.
¶ Posted 18 August 2010 § ‡ ° Scorpion
July 17, 2010
Location: Carlsbad, Ca
This scorpion was at the bottom of my neighbors pool. This is the second one they have found. What type is it and is it harmful? How do I keep them out of my yard?
creeped out in Cali
Unidentified Scorpion
Dear creeped out in Cali,
We are uncertain what species of Scorpion drowned in your neighbors pool, but perhaps one of our readers will be able to provide that information since we will be posting your letter. We do not have any advice for keeping native wildlife out of your yard. According to BugGuide: “The sting of most scorpions is not serious and usually results in localized pain, some swelling, tenderness and some discoloration. Systemic reactions to scorpion stings are rare. However, the sting of one scorpion, Centruroides exilicauda, can be fatal. Most healthy adults are not at significant risk; the ones most at risk of dying from a sting by Centruroides exilicauda are children. The site of the sting does not become discolored. Another scorpion that has been known to have an intense sting is Centruroides vittatus, but no deaths are known to have been attributed to it directly. All but one of the 25 or so dangerous scorpions are in the family Buthidae. The only other dangerous species is Hemiscorpius lepturus (Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen) in the family Hemiscorpiidae, which has been shown to have an unusually toxic hemolytic venom.“ Your specimen does not look like Centruroides exilicauda in our opinion.
¶ Posted 18 July 2010 § ‡ ° 
rss
I like This
