Big Bend National Park in Texas is warning people to beware of acid-spraying “whip scorpions.”
Whip scorpions or Vinegaroons are not actual scorpions but tend to resemble them. These arachnids have the ability, when attacked to discharge an offensive, vinegar-smelling liquid, which contains acetic acid.
The following written content from Rebecca Hennes
National park officials are warning campers of an unusual-looking visitor that has started to emerge due to the recent summer rains.
“Vinegaroons,” also known as whip scorpions, are a cross between a spider and a scorpion. If bothered, they can pack a serious pinch with their mouths and shoot 85% acetic acid from the “whip” located at the end of their body.
The eye-popping bug was spotted at Big Bend National Park earlier this month and quickly caught the attention of many social media users.
“Seems like I’ve seen a giant-sized version of this girl in a SciFi movie,” one Facebook user wrote.
“I am going to have nightmares from this photo,” wrote another. “That’s enough Internet for today.”
The vinegaroon spotted at Big Bend was found near the Chisos Basin campground, park officials said. Despite their ominous appearance, park officials say they are helpful in hunting down cockroaches and scorpions, as well as millipedes and other invertebrates. These guys are nocturnal and have poor vision, so they use their legs to sense vibrations to hunt and typically come out from their burrows after heavy rains to eat and mate.
Vinegaroons are found primarily in the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas but have also been spotted in areas north as the Panhandle and in south Texas, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Research. Their primary habitat is desert, but they have also frequented grassland, scrub, pine forests, and mountains.
If you ever come across one, don’t worry too much — whip scorpions are not poisonous, but their pinch power and far-reaching spray are not to be messed with. Read more from Houston Chronicle
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