Summer Rains Bring Vinegaroons Out of Their Burrows in Search of Food and Love. 

Vinegaroons are about 3 inches long and relatively benign unless you happen to annoy them. They can pinch with their heavy mouthparts (pedipalps) and shoot a well-aimed spray of 85% acetic acid (vinegar) from the base of their "whip" to protect themselves. Vinegaroons are nocturnal and can't see very well. They hunt millipedes, scorpions, crickets, cockroaches, and other invertebrates by sensing vibrations with their long, thin front legs. Most commonly seen in the desert, this vinegaroon was taking a stroll around the Chisos Basin campground. If you're lucky enough to see one, look closely. If it's a female, she may be carrying her hatchlings on her back.

Read more about these fascinating arachnids here:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thelyphonida

photograph by CA Hoyt | National Park Service

My vinegaroon and I vibing 😌

My husband commissioned my Skydancer, Monarch for me and NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGH IT IS THE BEST <3

Vinegaroons (Order Thelyphonida)

Also known as whip scorpions or uropygids, Vinegaroons are an order of arachnids (not scorpions) found in most tropical areas that are not Europe or Australia (surprising I know). Whip scorpions like their scorpion relatives are noted for their large pedipalps which they use to grasp food, unlike scorpions they have no venom glands and instead can spray a type of acid out of their abdomen when threatened. This acidic compound gives off a vinegar-like smell which gave them the name vinegaroon. In the wild they are usually found in an underground burrow that is dug with the animals large pedipalps, they are often found under logs and other debris as well. Whip scorpions are also fairly popular pets.

Phylogeny

Animalia-Arthropoda-Arachnida-Thelyphonida