Are Whip Scorpions Dangerous?

Whip Scorpions are really weird critters. There's a lot of disagreement within the scientific community about, well, scientific stuff regarding whip scorpions. First off, they are not venomous like true scorpions are, which sets them apart. They also only have six functioning legs, although they do also have two additional front legs that are used as antennae or sensory organs. They have two pincers like true scorpions, but they are formed differently. Whip scorpions, also called Vinegarroons (sometimes spelled Vinegaroons), have four sets of eyes that are configured similarly to true scorpions. There are at least 100 known species of Vinegarroons world wide.

What really sets whip scorpions apart from most other critters is their ability to spray an acidic liquid from the rear of their abdomen as a self defense tactic. This spray smells an awful lot like vinegar, hence the name Vinegarroon. In that sense they're sort of the skunk of the arachnid family. They also have a 'whip', which is located at the end of their abdomen which they use mainly as an additional sensory organ.

The good news is that they really don't want anything to do with you and they aren't frequent home invaders like bark scorpions are. The bad news is that the bite or pinch from some species can be very painful. The best thing to do is just shoo them along. They do an amazing job of controlling crickets and cockroaches. Learn more about Whip Scorpions HERE.

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