Bug FAQGiant Vinegaroon
Mastigoproctus giganteus · Order: Uropygi · Family: Thelyphonidae
Source: Wikipedia
Giant vinegaroons grow to about 40 to 60 mm long, not counting the tail, and live in the southern United States and Mexico at mid-elevations. They hunt insects, worms and slugs at night and are considered beneficial because they reduce pest arthropods around homes.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
They move on six legs, use two long front legs as feelers, and have large claw-like pedipalps for crushing prey. A thin, whip-like tail gives them the common name whip-scorpion.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults reach 40 to 60 mm (1.6 to 2.4 in) in body length, not counting the tail.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
They help control stinging scorpions, insects and spiders around homes.
Source: Wikipedia
Does it bite or sting?
If the acidic spray from the tail contacts cuts, mucous membranes or eyes it can cause irritation or a stinging sensation.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
They are found in the southern U.S. and Mexico at elevations of 1,380 to 1,800 m.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
They prey on a variety of insects, worms and slugs.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Females live 4 to 7 years, reproduce once, and guard about 40 young until they can feed themselves. Males fight each other at night for the chance to mate.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
They are active night-time predators of arthropods.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Their native range extends from the southern United States into Mexico.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 5 of 51 states and DC. Most records: New Mexico, Florida, Arizona, Texas, Oregon.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: endemic in North America. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
Do they bite or sting?
They rarely bite, but their tail can spray acid that stings eyes or cuts.
Source: Wikipedia
Are they harmful to my garden?
No, they eat insects, worms and slugs and are considered beneficial for gardens.
Source: Wikipedia
What do they look like?
They have six walking legs, two long antenniform front legs, large claw-like pedipalps, and a thin whip-like tail.
Source: Wikipedia
Where might I find a giant vinegaroon?
In the southern United States and Mexico, usually at elevations between 1,380 and 1,800 m.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Thelyphonidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastigoproctus_giganteus
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.