Tailless Whipscorpion from Cambodia
(03/19/2008) South East Asian Bug
Hey Bugman,
I saw this bug in June in Cambodia.  It was by the temples of Angkor.  My guide said he had never seen a bug like that in all his years.  What is it and is it rare? Thanks,
Jon



Hi Jon,
Harmless Tailless Whipscorpions are found in many parts of the world. We have received photos from Africa, Asia, Central America, Mexico and the Southwest United States. They are shy nocturnal hunters, which explains why they are not often encountered.

Tailless Whipscorpion
(01/26/2008) whats that bug
I was rudely awoken one night by this crawling across my face.... i have no idea what it is can you identify it for me please



This is a harmless Tailless Whipscorpion. In the U.S. these shy predators can be found in Arizona, Texas and Florida, but most of our reports come from tropical countries. Sadly, you did not provide a location.

Tailless Whipscorpion from Ecuador
(01/16/2008) bug identification request
Hi Daniel,
Thank you for the previous identification.  When searching for swallow-tailed moth (which looks much different than a swallowtail moth), I came across hits for swallowtail butterflies, but I didn't think to also search under swallowtail moth. I have one more id request from Yasuni National Park. We saw what appears to be a spider in the attached picture while doing a nightwalk.  Looking on your site, it resembles a tailless whipscorpion.  Is that correct? Thanks,
Oliver



Hi Oliver,
You are correct. This fierce looking creature is a harmless Tailless Whipscorpion.

Tailless Whipscorpion
(11/30/2007) Whats this?
Hello, my name is Kevin and I'm working in Nicaragua and came across this interesting bug, which appeared to be some sort of spider. I examined it under a microscope and it has fangs like a spider and two mandible like appendages. Have any Ideas?
Kevin L. Miller



Hi Kevin,
Though it might look fierce, the Tailless Whipscorpion is a harmless predator.

Tailless Whipscorpion
(10/17/2007) Tailless Whipscorpion from Chamela, Mexico
Hi.
After searching the web to find out what bug I saw the other night I came across your site that had good pictures of the Tailless Whipscorpion and that made me pretty sure that what I saw was just that. The thing that confuses me is that the locals say that it’s poisonous. A girl at the house where I live told me that she got bitten three years ago. It had hidden in her shorts and when she put them on it bit her. If you get stung you will loose your vision and sense of hearing. If you don’t get and antidote within 30 minutes you will die. Since you say it’s harmless I guess it must have been something else that bitten her. What could that be that kill you in 30 minutes and disables your eyes and hearing? I attached a picture of the Tailless Whipscorpion for your site. Best Regards
Niclas Skold



Hi Niclas,
While we were in Iscamilpa Mexico for the total solar eclipse, we were amused by a sign outside the church warning the locals to stay indoors because scorpions would fall from the sky. While there are many poisonous creatures in Mexico that will sting and bite, the Tailless Whipscorpion is not one. Their fierce appearance belies their harmlessness.

Giant Vinegarone
(10/04/2007) What bug do I have?
I found this bug outside of my house on my porch right after a rain storm on 10/4/07.   I live in New Mexico at about 5500ft on the plains west of the Sandia Mountains in central New Mexico.   The body is like a beetle, but it has pinchers like a scorpion.    The tail is about 2 inches long, and appears to act like an antenna of sorts but does not appear to be a stinger. It gives off an awful and irritant smell that hurts the eyes and throat.     This thing is freaky and looks like a cross breed of a scorpion and a beetle. The picture does not illustrate its size.  It is about 3 inches long. Please let us know, if you are familiar with what it is.
Zachary Grant



Hi Zachary,
This Whipscorpion is commonly called a Vinegarone, or Grampus in the South. It is a harmless relative of scorpions and it gets the name Vinegarone because of the vinegar scented acid they release from a gland near the tail. They are shy nocturnal hunters that are seldom encountered.

Whipscorpion from Thailand
(09/17/2007) Rescuing fish...!
Hello guys from a big fan ! Yes, a big hoorah for the best bug site on the net. Even though it's largely New World orientated, the photos, the philosophy, the humour..oh, and the scientific accuracy are all first class, and searches usually point me in the right direction for Eurpoean and Asian examples, although you do deservedly have a world-wide audience. I'm glad to hear that you,ve been swamped over the summer because it means that people are out there are getting interested in the amazing variety to be found in the insect world, and also know the right people to contact with their discoveries.         However, your popularity has prevented me from consulting your oracle during the summer, as I didn't want to overburden you with my footling little problem, but ......ooh, I can't contain my curiosity any longer. I spotted this little beauty on the 29th of May this year, and after looking all over the place, still can't even work out if it's an insect or a spider, or even something more resembling a prawn ! An interesting little story is behind my unearthing of  " Jaws " , though, so here goes...         On that day, I was staying at the house of friends in Rayong, Thailand, and it was an unbelievably hot morning, which built up to one of the many thunderstorms which we'd been having in the afternoons and evenings at the time. This time, though, we had a near-apocalyptic tropical downpour ( as opposed to a normal tropical downpour ), and water was just cascading off the roof in all directions, as the guttering was completely overwhelmed. At one point there came a great crash from the front yard which didn't sound as if it came from the heavens, so we all peered out the front door to see what had happened. What we found was that a section of guttering at the front of the house had given way under the pressure of water and crashed down into the front yard on top of a huge, three-foot high earthenware bowl, which was, as is usual in Thai gardens, full of water lilies and fish.         The huge pot shattered, of course, and the hapless fish were spewed out all over the already waterlogged front yard, flapping about and in imminent danger of being washed away, so we had to grab pans from the kitchen and run out into the cloudburst to try and scoop them up !!         In the middle of the rescue operation, I found this very unfishlike thing floundering around as well, so scooped it up as well. Its body ( jaws head,thorax, abdomen ) is about the same length as my little finger, though obviously not so thick. I'm afraid it's not such a good photo, and I'll give the circumstances as my excuse, but it seems to have eight legs, although the extra ones may not be legs.. Also, it has a long "sting " on it's abdomen, at least the same length as the abdomen itself, possibly an ovipositor. Originally I had assumed that it had come out of the water jar along with the fish, and was therefore aquatic, but it's posssible that it was just hanging around in the yard and got caught up in the all-pervading wetness !! My first thought was that it was a dragonfly nymph, quickly discounted, and then maybe a water-scorpion, but it doesn't quite match that either, and I'm still not sure if it's an insect or an arachnid, so......HELP !!! ( I let it go pretty quickly, as I didn't fancy a nip from those mandibles, and yes, the fish are all doing fine !! )......Cheers
Graham Moore, Purmerend, Netherlands........and quite often Rayong, Thailand.



Hi Graham,
This is a Whipscorpion. We found a near exact match on a crazy blog entitled Wesley in Thailand. We also posted another similar example from Thailand last year that met a nasty fate when it was discovered. Sorry we can't provide an exact species.

Vinegarone
(07/26/2007) Whiptail Scorpion
Thought you might enjoy these pictures of a whiptail scorpion.  They are fascinating and nasty looking bugs.  And yes, they will shoot vinegar smelling stuff at you, I got it all over my hand while taking these pictures.  Love your site!
Samantha D.



Hi Samantha,
Thank you for providing us with a first hand account of the reason the Whipscorpion is also known as a Vinegarone. Now if only we can determine the reason for the other common name: Grampus.

scorpion	Wood Boring Beetle

Vinegaroon
(06/16/2007)
Hello Bugman,
I saw the weirdest bug I've ever seen while watering in my front yard.  After raking, this almost black scorpion-lobster-roach-spider with a long stinger looking tailed insect crawled out from under the leaves.  Do you know what this is? Thanks,
Darleen



Hi Darleen,
That is the most colorful description of a Vinegaroon, which is also known in parts of the South as a Grampus, we have ever received. We hope it did not meet with an untimely demise. The Vinegaroon is a non-poisonous relative of the scorpions. It is harmless unless you are a small arthropod. Vinegaroons are Whipscorpions in the family Thelyphonidae, and we believe this specimen is in the genus Mastigoproctus.

Vinegaroon from Mexico
(05/21/2007) What a hell is this!!
Hello! Im Arturo Christhian from Monterrey, Mexico. Last day there was a big rain, and in the next day we discover this bug in our house! What is it! We never seen something like that before J Love your website! Greetings!
Arturo



Hi There Arturo,
This is the first letter we are answering since returning to the office. This is a Vinegaroon, a non-poisonous relative of the scorpions. It is harmless unless you are a small arthropod. Vinegaroons are Whipscorpions in the family Thelyphonidae, and we believe this specimen is in the genus Mastigoproctus.

Tailless Whipscorpion from Mexico
(03/31/2007) Crutsy ID
This speciman showed up in my car in Nayarit Mexico. I found it after I was on the beach in San Blas. None of the locals had a clue what it was. Please feel free to contact me for further info. Thanks for hosting your site.
Steve Pratt



Hi Steve,
Tailless Whipscorpions are shy, harmless, nocturnal predators. Thanks for sending in this unusual angle for our archives.

Tailless Whipscorpion from Costa Rica
(03/08/2007) do you know, what that is?
Hola bugman!!
i took a picture of this funny buggyspider in costa rica,pacific coast, close to tamarindo. it lives in a sugarcane made roof and comes out every night at 6:30pm. every night for 3 months now. we all here are argueing about, whether its a spider or a bug. have you seen such creature before? best regards,
meli



Hi Meli,
This is a Tailless Whipscorpion. Whipscorpions are harmless Arachnids. They do not have venom and they are nocturnal hunters.

Tailless Whipscorpion from Mexico
(01/04/2007) found this tryin to get mexician hotel room near itza temple one nite
it was over 6 inch across ,, bigger than my uk size 9 feet ,,, well what can i say about the experiance ,, apart from scary ,,found its way into the drunken pairs room ,, so we chased it about with a palmcorder ,, till it scared me by jumping at the cam ,, the it was trapped in a massive jug ,, then throw back to the jungle,, dirty lil squatters ,,,, but on a different note ,, any idea what it is ,, ?? hope you can help me ps ,,. it says spider in pic name ,, but i differ now as it only got 6 legs ,, unless those massive jaws count
Bill



Hi Bill,
Fear not. The Tailless Whipscorpion is harmless. They are nocturnal predators that probably help rid the hotel of cockroaches.

Tailless Whipscorpion
(11/27/2006) Spiderlike creature
Good day,
Could you help me with this thing. We found it on the wall and it seemed it was stalking a gecko. One of the pairs of legs are very long and it has arms with scorpion like claws. Thanks
Regards
Louis Marais



Hi Louis,
Unless you are a gecko or other small creature, the Tailless Whipscorpion is harmless. They are shy nocturnal hunters that are usually found in warm humid locations, but they are also found in warm arid areas.

Cancle or Tailless Whipscorpion
(11/14/2006) HI FROM PARADISE !!
HELLO THERE--- MY NAME IS JUAN CARLOS, I LIVE IN PUERTO VALLARTA JAL, MEXICO I JUST LOVE YOUR PAGE (AND OFF COURSE INSECTS) I AM SENDING YOU SOME PICTURES OFF A TAILLESS WHIPSCORPION THAT IS MY HAND THANKS (AS YOU CAN SEE MY LANGUAGE IS SPANISH)
Juan Carlos Lemus



Hi Juan Carlos,
We got another letter once that reported the Spanish name for a Tailless Whipscorpion is a Cancle. Thanks for the verification. Your photo is great and will surely creep out some of our readers. We can't imagine that your tourist bureau advertises with photos of the Tailless Whipscorpion, but we are sure eager to visit your paradise.

Tailless Whipscorpion
(10/20/2006) Tailless Whip Scorpion
Thought you might like this picture of a Tailless Whip Scorpion which is living in my garage. I live in Peoria, Arizona.
Nicky.



Hi Nicky,
Thanks for sending us you great photograph. We are quite certain that most people who encounter Tailless Whipscorpions have a difficult time believing they are totally harmless. These shy creatures are nocturnal predators.

Tailless Whipscorpion
(09/05/2006) caribbean spider
Hi!
I love your site--I use it to identify caterpillars all the time. My boyfriend and his brother found this spider in a tunnel in some ruins of an old sugar plantation on St. Kitts W.I. With legs, it was roughly 4 or 5 inches in diameter (and it had plenty of company!) It looks kind of like a giant crab spider to me, but the "pincers" in ours are quite thick and armored and have spikes on them. Can you help? Thanks!
Fawn



Hi Fawn,
This is not a spider, but a Tailless Whipscorpion, a shy and harmless creature unless you are a small edible critter like a cricket.

Scorpion and Brood
(09/04/2006) scorpion & babies updated picture
Hi!
I sent you this picture earlier and didn't format it correctly. Here is the mama scorpion and her babies I found in my backyard this morning. I'm not sure what kind she is. We live in Round Rock, TX. My family loves your site and we have been able to identify several spiders and insects. Thanks for all you do. Sincerely,
ST



Hi ST,
Female Scorpions will carry their brood about for a short time until the youngsters begin to disperse.

Tailless Whipscorpion
(08/25/2006) Here's an odd one
I found this critter on a stucco wall in the vicinity of Piestewa Peak in Phoenix, Arizona. I am quite sure it’s an insect, as the very long appendages appear on close inspection to be antennae. The size of the body is about 3⁄4” long. The antennae are about 3 inches long! The body is very flat, and the shape of the head is just bizarre. In my 56 years living in the Phoenix area I have never seen anything remotely like this creature. Thank you,
Rook Younger
Phoenix, Arizona



Hi Rook
This is not an insect, but an Arachnid. It is a harmless Tailless Whipscorpion. They are not uncommon in humid tropics (though they are also found in arid Arizona), but as they are shy nocturnal hunters, they often go unnoticed.

Mexican Tailless Whipscorpion
(05/10/2006) tailless whipscorpian from Chacala, Mexico
I visited Chacala Mexico (in the state of Najarit). The week that I was there, a strange creature would reappear in the bathroom every night. She freaked me out, but was too larget for me to kill without a seriously guilty conscious. I just left her alone everynight, keeping an eye on her while I used the bathroom, and got out of there as quickly as I could. I assumed she was simply a giant spider, until someone suggested she may be a scorpian. Once I got home, a friend tracked down your website and we were able to conclude this bizarre creature was a tailless whipscorpian, and thankfully not harmful! I though you might be interested in this photo of her. Thanks for providing this info! One more question: are these common, and in what parts of the world?
Thanks,
Anna



Hi Anna,
According to our Audubon Guide, there are about 60 species worldwide and three in North America. They are found in warm climates. Being nocturnal, they are often overlooked.

Whipscorpion
(05/01/2006) Is this a scorpion?
Dear Bugman,
I live in central Thailand, and I just killed this thing in my bathroom last night. Is this a real scorpion? A friend just refered me to your site, and I think it might be a tailless whipscorpion. The body of this one was about 2-3 inches long, but we killed a little one a couple weeks ago that was probably only a centimeter long.
Thanks,
Kristen



Hi Kristen,
This is not a Tailless Whipscorpion, since it has a tail. It is a Whipscorpion in the order Uropygi. They have a long whiplike tail instead of a stinger. They have no venom so are not harmful to people. We have a single species in the U.S. that is known as a Vinegarone. Most species in this order can secrete acetic acid, the mild acid found in vinegar, and this lead to the common name. Since they ravenously eat cockroaches and other insects, they are beneficial, and your killing spree amounts to Unnecessary Carnage.

Tailless Whipscorpion
(04/11/2006) This Creature Gives Me The Creeps
Hi Bug Man
I'm trying to get some info on my co-habitants. Whenever I go to the shed, I always find one wandering around a corner. Can you give me more information about this creature?
Thanx in advance,
Qiniso Mdletshe



Hi Qiniso,
Even though they look creepy, Tailless Whipscorpions are perfectly harmless.

Tailless Whipscorpion with young from Costa Rica
(03/31/2006) whip scorpion with young
Just in case you might like to see one with her young riding on back.

We would love to post it, but if you didn't take the photo, we cannot.

Greetings.
Yes, I took the photo.
Photo credit, if you do such a thing...
Photographer: Robert Stephan
Location: Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Taken: March 26, 2006 at 6.39pm EST



Thank you so much Robert,
We are thrilled to have your photo on our site. It will stay on the homepage several days and remain on the scorpion/whipscorpion page as long as we have a site.

Tailless Whipscorpion from Mexico
(03/10/2006) mexican tailless whipscorpion - possible undescribed species
hey
I came accross your site while looking for information on a bug my friend found at his house. I found a pic that is the same on your site, and your description said that you had never seen one before. It was found north of manzanillo, in mexico in the one on your site. The one my friend found was here where we live right in manzanillo. It's called a cancle by the locals, and most of them have never actually seen one, but for the ones that have they seem pretty scared of it. They say it's more deadly then their deadliest scorpian here. They say the red clawlike things in the front can sting u and kill u in less than 5 mins. I would really like to know if this is true or not, but there just is nothing anywhere about this species! do you know anymore about it? i'm attaching a pic of a dead one that my friend found.
thanks
janet



Hi Janet,
Someone named Scootro also sent this image in to us for identification today, and he described it as a "crab-scorpion-lobster-spider" which is somewhat accurate. Tailless Whipscorpions do not have venom and are not poisonous. Despite the fierce appearance, they are harmless to people, but predators to other arthropods.

Florida Bark Scorpion
(02/23/2006) Help!!!
Please help with this bug-phobic sleep tonight. I live in south Florida and just moved into a newly constructed house. We had our furniture in storage for about three months. Could you look at the pictures to help identify what type of insect is in these pictures. It looks like some type of scorpian but in Florida???
Grately appreciated,
Celeste Kington



Hi Celeste,
This is definitely a scorpion, and we believe it is a Florida Bark Scorpion, Centruroides gracilis. According to The Scorpion Files site: "This scorpion can inflict very a painful sting, but it is not considered as potent as some of its relatives. Some information indicates that individuals from North America are less venomous than their relatives from Central and South America. .... This species should be handled with care "

South African Scorpion: Dangerous Pseudolychas pegleri
(02/14/2006) Scorpion in South Africa
Hi
I have found a scorpion in my lounge, just sitting there looking at my foot. I Live in South Africa and was wondering how dangerous this scorpion is ? Any info on it would be greatly appreciated.
Kind Regards
Neel Sahdeo



Hi Neel,
We don't really know much about South African scorpions, but we did locate a site that discusses medically important species with serious stings. Your specimen does not seem to match those pictured. Perhaps someone who knows more will write in with a positive identification.

Update: For the south african scorpion.
(02/20/2006)
Hey guys,
No clear identification on that scorpion, although for quick "Is-it-dangerous-or-not?" Big pinchers small tail, not fatal, cause it kills bugs with the pinchers. Small pinchers big tail, DO NOT TOUCH IT, kills bugs with poison. Sorry 'bout the late reply, timezones and everything. Yes, those in the picture would be small pinchers, if you have two specimens of each next to each other, then you can clearly see the difference. Here is a link that helps! http://www.scorpions.co.za/rothumb.asp On identification matters I think that one could be a Pseudolychas pegleri, Not certain though, but I queried it with Jonathan Leeming, an expert on the field of scorpions. The above link is to his site as well. Hope it all helps!
Hardus Swanepoel

Update: Hardus then forwarded the following identification.
Hi Hardus Yep! It's Pseudolychas pegleri. I bet it was found in your house...
Kind regards
Jonathan Leeming
scorpions of southern Africa

Tailless Whipscorpion from Costa Rica
(02/01/2006) help identify this critter!
Dear bugman,
My friend took this photo recently during his trip in Costa Rica. He is convinced that it is a "pseudoscorpion," because he has seen photos that match; now I don't know what kind of pseudoscorpions he's been looking at because I know for sure this is not it! I am pretty sure it's a whip scorpion but he would not believe me! Can you please help identify it and settle our debate? Thank you for the awesome site!
Celia



Hi Celia,
Common names are always subject to local variations, hence the widely accepted taxonomic system based on genus and species. However, in most circles, you would be considered correct. The Tailless Whipscorpion is a large but harmless creature. The Pseudoscorpion in minute by comparison, often being confused for a small tick.

Tailless Whipscorpion: Crabspidion
(01/29/2006) Tail-less whip scorpion from the Fl. keys.
Dear bugman,
I live in the Florida keys, Key Largo to be exact, and I found what a bug loving friend identified ans a tail-less whip scorpion. We found them in our old wood pile. Me and my sister named it CrabSpidions because they had a mouth like a crab, a plating like a scorpion, and legs like a spider. You'd be glad to hear we avoided killing them because we only kill things that are in our immediate way and seem like a risk. I prefer to keep spiders alive so they can kill pests. We have a collection of what we call air spiders that are similar to daddy long-legs, who eat our ants that invade. Our CrabSpidions varied from half inch bodies, and 2 inch legs, to that one that was a large 1 inch body, and 3 inch long legs. Those are the pics we took. When taking the pictures I did not know that they weren't poisonous, so I was afraid to get too close. Enjoy, because my bug loving friend was tickled to find me linking the pictures when she woke up over things she really loves.



Thanks for sending in the images.

Kenyan Tailless Whipscorpion
(01/25/2006) Please identify for us
Dear Bugman,
Could you identify this bug for us. We found this one (dead) during our holyday on the coast of Kenya near Mombassa. The body itself is about 5 cm long.Although it looks quite specific, we were not able to find another picture with a name of it It would be very nice if you give this one a name so we are not puzzeld anymore If it is not your area, could you give a place were we could look for it? Thanks,
Rob & Annita
(The Netherlands)



Hi Rob and Annita,
This is a Tailless Whipscorpion, a harmless relative of true scorpions. They are shy nocturnal hunters found in warm climates.

Baby Scorpion Pet
(01/23/2006) mystery scorpion
I found this little guy under a rock near Death Valley last march, about the size of a grain of rice. I took him home and he's doing great, with quite the appetite, but I don't know what species he his or how big he will get. Thanks for the help Bugman and for making an awesome site!
Cheers,
Brandon



Hi Brandon,
This looks like a Desert Scorpion in the genus Vaejovis.

Tailless Whipscorpion
(01/19/2006) cave critter in Belize
Hi:
We saw this creature in a cave in Belize. The guide said it was a type of scorpion but I have not been able to identify it. Do you know what it is?
Thanks!
Tamara
San Pedro, Belize



Hi Tamara,
This is not a true scorpion, but a Tailless Whipscorpion. They are harmless.

Whipscorpion
(12/30/2005) Caribbean Insect
Found this monster in our Cistern Tank room last night. The piece of PVC pipe next to it is 8" long and 3" in diameter. I've had tarantulas crawl on me and scorpions sting me in bed, but never have I seen anything here on St. John this big. Can you identify it? No one around here has ever seen one before.
Thanks,
Debbie Grammer
St. John, US Virgin Islands



Hi Debbie,
Tailless Whipscorpions are Arachnids, not insects. Even though they are large and fierce looking, they are shy and harmless.

Tailless Whipscorpion	Immature Katydid

Desert Scorpion Devours Cricket!!!
(11/15/2005) Scorpion eating cricket
The "Desert Scorpion devours Roach" photo in the scorpion section reminded me of the one I took a few weeks ago outside my house in Tempe, AZ (see attached photo).  The pizza guy was not nearly as impressed as I was.
Thanks for a great site!
Cindy



Hi Cindy,
That pizza guy is so jaded, or perhaps they also have a problem with scorpions getting into pizza. This also looks like a Desert Scorpion in the genus Vaejovis.

Mexican Tailless Whipscorpion
(11/11/2005) Mexican Amblypygi
Greetings.
I believe this to be an arachnid Amblypygi but have not been able to find one on the web that is this large or colourful.  It was discovered in a kitchen sink on Mexico's Pacific coast just north of Manzanillo. Contrary to what I've read on the web, our Mexican friends attributed paralyzing bites to this insect. Can you give me a bit more information? Also, in trying to identify this insect I've noticed whip-scorpion and whip-spider being used - are they they same insect.
Thanks,
Ralph



Hi Ralph,
We have never seen a Tailless Whipscorpion quite like your beauty. When we were in Mexico for a solar eclipse, the locals warned us to stay indoors during totality since scorpions would fall from the sky. There are many unfounded superstitions about many creatures. We have only ever heard that Tailless Whipscorpions possess no venom, hence are harmless. Thank you for the wonderful image. Our Audubon Guide says there are 60 species worldwide and three in North America. Mexico has so many insects, spiders and related Arthropods that this could well be an undescribed species.

Desert Scorpion devours Roach
(11/10/2005) Scorpion photo
Hello, you helped us in the past identify a tailless whip scorpion. Thought you might enjoy this photo.



What a beautiful photo of a Desert Scorpion, genus Vaejovis, devouring an immature Cockroach.

Tailless Whipscorpion
(10/12/2005) Vinagrillo?
We saw this spider in mexico when we were checking out some of the ruins.  It was about 3 and 1/2" accross.  Could you tell us what it is? and is it dangerous?  Thanks.



The Tailless Whipscorpion is harmless.

Tailless Whipscorpion
(10/06/2005) what's the name of that thing!
HI, I FOUND THIS STRANGE BUG OR INSECT AND DON'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT IT IS,PLEASE HELP ME FIND OUT ITS NAME AND WHAT CLASS OF INSECT OR BUG IT IS.THIS BUG OR INSECT WAS FOUND BY MYSELF HERE IN GRENADA.
THANK YOU.
DILLON JOHNSON



Hi Dillon,
The Tailless Whipscorpion belongs to the Order Amblypygi. Despite the fierce appearance, they are harmless and actually quite shy nocturnal hunters.

Scorpion Chicago Native? WE DON'T THINK SO!!!
(09/30/2005) Scorpion Pictures
we found this scorpion yesterday here at work.  We get alot of stuff from Asia, but not tropical regions.  We are in Chicago Illinois, so I know that this would die here right?  Do you know what this one is or where it would come from? Is he venemous?  Anything would be nice, cuz right now we have  him in a tupperware container with a hole in the top not knowing what to do with him...did someone plant him as a joke, or is he really from Asia?  He is about 3 - 4 inches long....totally black from what I can see....hope you can determine something from this...
Heidi



Hi Heidi,
This is most assuredly not a Chicago native. We believe this to be an African Black Scorpion in the genus Pandinus. We found this information on a scorpion collector's website: "African Emperor Scorpion (Pandinus imperator) WC adults 4", $15 each These beautiful jet black scorpions are also, pound for pound one of the largest. Gentile in nature for the most part making them ideal pet specimans that rarely sting, and posseses mild venom. These have been a staple scorpion hobby species for many years, and a must for beginners looking for a great start in keeping scorpions. Very cool scorpion! " In answer to your question about it being planted as a joke: WE THINK SO.

Tailless Whipscorpion
(09/29/2005) Big bug in garage
Hi Bugman:
I live in Phoenix, and when I went to grab the dust-buster the other night, I nearly wound up with a handful of heart attack. Can you identify this beast? Or at least which planet it came from? I also found one at the bottom of my pool a couple weeks ago.
Thanks,
John



Hi John,
Despite the warning sign which gives us endless amusement, the Tailless Whipscorpion is harmless. It is a shy desert dweller often found in dark damp areas.

Tailless Whip Scorpion
(09/01/2005) Spider
Please help, found in AZ.
Mark M. Moore



Dear Mark,
What a marvelous image of a Tailless Whip Scorpion. These shy retiring creatures are harmless.

Tailless Whip-Scorpion
(08/09/2005) Please help, found in AZ.
Mark M. Moore



Hi Mark,
You don't need help. The Tailless Whip-Scorpion is perfectly harmless.

Talk about Extras!!!
(08/03/2005) 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.

Solpugid
(07/07/2005) 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.

Tailless Whipscorpion
(07/06/2005) 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.

Tailless Whip-Scorpion
(06/22/2005) 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

Giant Vinegaroon
(06/11/2005) 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.

Tailless Whip-Scorpion
(12/17/2004) 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.

Scorpion
(07/05/2004) 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.

Black Witch and Giant Vinegaroon
(07/02/2004) Hello Bugman!
I wish I had found your site before now as we have been on many a long internet search trying to identify some of the strange bugs that grow here in the Texas South Plains ( Lubbock to be exact)! J   Anyways,  I have a couple of pictures for you that I * think * are of a giant vinegaroon (notice truck bumper & shoe in pic for appox. Size) and a Black Witch Moth??



Hi Lois,
You are absolutely correct on both counts. Yours is the best Black Witch photo we have gotten, and your Vinegaroon, also called a Grampus, is great as well. Thank you so much for sending them in.

(01/09/2004)
Hello,
I found this 'bug' in my wife's bathtub. It's about one inch long and looked completely black. We live in central Alabama along the Alabama-Mississippi State line. This is the first one we've seen in our home and was just wondering what it might be. Looks like a scorpion to me....but I have no idea what kind it is or what dangers it possesses. What do you think?
Thanks,Jason



Yes Jason, it is a scorpion.
Scorpions are capable of stinging. The sting is located at the end of the tail. The sting contains poison, but of the forty or so scorpions found in the U.S. only two are dangerous as their venom is a neurotoxin. Both of these are found in Arizona. Scorpions are found in both the South and the West, so you are in the common range. They are shy and nocturnal. The sting of most scorpions is painful and accompanied by local swelling and discoloration, but is not dangerous. Do not swat them or they will sting you. If one is crawling on your body, you should blow it off or gently brush it off.

Dear Amy,
Yes, scorpions do live in the South. They like warm weather, and although they are most commonly associated with desert regions, they can be found in the Southern U.S. The eastern species are not deadly, and their sting is likened to a bee sting. It is said that the best remedy for a scorpion sting is ammonia applied externally. Another arachnid, the giant whip scorpion, Mastigoproctus giganteus, is black and is found in the South where they bear the local name "grampus". Though feared, they are harmless. The most dangerous scorpion in the U.S. is Centruroides exilicauda which can be found in Southern Arizona but it has recently turned up in Orange county California. In the last twenty years, it has been responsible for more deaths due to venomous creatures than even the rattlesnake. Check out our scorpion page for some photos and additional information. Here is a photo I downloaded of a whip scorpion, vinegaroon or grampus.

Thank you so much for such a quick response. I have been walking around our house with shoes and socks and driving my son crazy making him do the same. I guess I never thought Alabama would be a place to find scorpions. I don't know why, it seems we have a varied assortment of creatures living in our state. I will visit your scorpion page. Again, thank you for putting a worried mind to rest.
Amy L. Taff

(9/9/2003) Bugman,
Found this one about an hour ago running across my living room. I live in Portolla Hills just outside of Mission Viejo, CA. Is it a Silvestri's Scorpion? I matched the picture to a name but didn't find any info on it. Dangerours? Recommendation on sprays to keep them away?
Thanks, MT


Dear MT,
While I hesitate to make exact identifications when it comes to potentially harmful species, it does appear that you found the Stripe-Tailed Scorpion, Paruroctonus silvestrii (Silvestri's scorpion as you presumed), which can be distinguished by the four longitudinal dark brown lines on the underside of its tail, a feature your wonderful photographs indicates. The species stings readily but without doing lasting harm.

Dear Big Bug Hater,
Might be a whip scorpion, not a true scorpion and actually quite harmless.  They are also called vinegaroons.

(7/28/2003)
We live in the hills in Los Angeles, and were recently visited by - what we discovered on your site to be - wind scorpions or sun spiders. However, last week we discovered a NEW and more FRIGHTEINING scorpion in a bedroom, and yet another today on our back patio.  Would this be a WIND scorpion?  It has a tail with a little stinger on it, as well as little claws on its front legs.  It's really creepy looking.  Also, is it poisonous and does its sting contain venom?  Or would it just simply "sting."  I've attached a photo for your viewing pleasure! Any help you could give us would be greatly appreciate.  Thanks!

It appears to be a Striped Tailed Scorpion, Paruroctonus silvestrii, which has venom like all scorpions, and will sting readily, but will do no lasting harm.  There are four conspicuous dark brown lines on the underside of the tail, which is unfortunately not visible in your photo.

Austin, Texas (6/03/03)We live in an older house - it was empty several years so we have all kinds of bugs which we try to keep out of the house!  Our worse invader is the scorpian after my husband was stung.  But we also have a horrible time keeping the katydids out of the house. They come out at night and get on us - after the scorpian sting scares you to death.  We kill probably 10 a night - between the 3 bedrooms. Even though they have been harmless I do not want them in the house - can you tell me how to get rid of them? Thanks!

Are you sure they are katydids? which are green and look like grasshoppers. I'm suspecting you have crickets, a common prey of scorpions. Bugs get into the house. Perhaps you should have a contractor find out where all the points of entry are and seal up the foundation.

Vinegaroons, or whip scorpions, are venomless arachnids that release an acetic acid substance when molested. This is the same type of acid as vinegar, hence the name. They do not bite, so please quit spreading this silly vicious rumor about a harmless, though somewhat frightening looking relative of spiders and scorpions.

Mr. Marlos,
     I've got another one for you!
I had been sitting diligently at my computer, waiting for the last few seconds of an ebay auction in order to snipe the competition, when I caught this creature making his way into a closet. The room was dark, and against my beige carpet, I actually thought it was a silverfish (it's legs and tail blended in). Had I known, I wouldn't've stepped on it, wearing only socks!
      When the little bastard zipped across the carpet, I knew it was time for the bug glass. This is the sixth scorpion I've caught in 3 summers, and the smallest, so far. I'd say the dark part of the body is about 3/4 of an inch long.
     Do you have any idea how much of a zinger these things wield? Sooner or later one of them is going to get me!
    —Chris

Hey Chris,
     Directly from the pages of Hogue:
"None of our indigenous scorpions is considered dangerous, although any may inflict a wound that is temporarily painful. However, there is a potentially lethal species (Dentruroides exilicauda) in southern Arizona and portions of the neighboring states. In Arizona, during a twenty year period, C. exilicauda has been responsible for the majority of the deaths due to venomous creatures, many more than rattlesnakes and all other types put together. The species has turned up in recent years in parts of Orange County, it has been particularly common in Irvine, where it poses a health hazard.
     The stings of our scorpions usually cause only a local reaction similar to that of a bee sting, consisting of pain and a burning sensation, with swelling that lasts from a few minutes to over an hour. First-aid treatment involves immersing the affected area in ice water or applying an ice pack. If symptoms persist, a physician should be consulted."
p. 358