Posted on 07/25/2021 7:54:23 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
The frightening creatures go by various names. Some call them whip-scorpions, while one journalist at the Houston Chronicle called the insect a "land lobster from hell."
The insects are better known as vinegaroons, and despite their hellish appearances, the nocturnal, visually impaired creatures pose relatively little harm to humans. In fact, they are good at killing pests like cockroaches and millipedes.
Brought out of their burrows by heavy rains in and around Big Bend National Park in southwest Texas, the approximately three-inch-long vinegaroons are out exploring the desert in search of food and love, according to a Facebook post from the park.
Vinegaroons pose dual threats to those who happen to annoy them. They can use their heavy pincers to pinch and shoot a "well-aimed" concoction of 85% acetic acid (which smells like vinegar) from the base of their whip-like tails.
The spray is not considered to be venomous for people, and vinegaroons aren't all that interested in humans. To catch their prey, vinegaroons use their long, thin front legs to sense vibrations from animals including millipedes, scorpions, crickets and cockroaches.
Vinegaroons can be found across the southern United States and Mexico. Those brave enough to look closely at a vinegaroon might see a female vinegaroon carrying her hatchlings on her back.
Yeah we call them potato bugs. They are gross but the chickens eat them like a treat.
When I was in Security Police, I was on the ramp one night at King Abdul Aziz Air Base in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia during Desert Shield in 1990. Watched a HUGE camel spider run up on the lowered ramp of a C-5 and into the cargo bay. Heard five loadmasters yell and run out the front ramp of the aircraft. They didn’t want to go back in, and asked us if we would shoot it.
Autocorrect are funny!
It kind of looks like James Carville.
They can say what they will about our wonderful four-season northern climate, but we don’t have creepy crawlies that shoot acid! Or red ants, wild pigs, armored possums or anywhere as many slitherins...
Your wife was lucky. I seen where people had gotten bit by them. They had bad sores and big. Recluses are nasty boogers.
You don’t know what you are missing.
lol, that is just funny on so many levels... :)
Yes it is dangerous down here, not to mention alligators and water moccasins.....
I would HIGHLY recommend all northerners stay put where they are....could be a matter of life and death!
Sometimes the best thread titles arrive at the wrong time.
Kewl! Just saw one of our resident Speckled King Snakes. They get the run of the place. Otherwise Copperheads would plague us.
People wondered why I always protect and nurture box turtles (tortoises).
Their eggs are the Speckled King Snake’s favorite food. Maybe we’ll see some Vinegaroons, but we’re probably too far north and east.
You are so right!
He created watermelon, so he gets a pass on everything else.
I just imagine Him, late in the day, looking over at his helpers, giving a little smirk, and saying “watch this.” Then a Duckbilled Platypus was formed.
I was just playing SWG Ledgends and I think I killed some of those ,LOL
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.