Texas is no stranger to unsightly bugs, but none are as mysterious as the vinegaroon. A scorpion-like insect that shoots a vinegar solution from its tail, this creature is almost too strange for words.

Also known as the "whip scorpion" or "land lobster," the vinegaroon is a three-inch-long arachnid recently spotted at Big Bend National Park.
Facebook/Big Bend National Park
The insect is not poisonous, although it can pinch when threatened.
Summer rains bring vinegaroons out of their burrows in search of food and a partner to mate with.
Facebook/Big Bend National Park
Invertebrates are their preferred cuisine, with millipedes, scorpions, crickets, and cockroaches being among their favorite snacks.
The creature is so named because it has the ability to shoot acetic acid, or vinegar, from its tail.
Eskay Lim / EyeEm Collection / Getty Images
The vinegaroon does this to protect itself in light of poor vision, which is even more of a detriment given that it is a nocturnal insect.

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You're most likely to encounter a vinegaroon in the arid climate of the desert, hence why they have been spotted in Big Bend.
Wikimedia Commons / Acrocynus
If you look closely, you just might be able to identify a female by the hatchlings on her back!
Getting too close, however, is strongly discouraged, lest the vinegaroon consider you a predator and unleash its wrath.
Wikimedia Commons / Biomechanoid56
The spray is well-aimed, consisting of 85%
All in all, the vinegaroon looks a lot more menacing than it actually is.
Wikimedia Commons / Maspran
As long as you aren't another bug - a smaller one, at that - your chances of survival are approximately 100%.
So next time you're out exploring the wondrous landscape of Big Bend National Park, keep an eye on the ground every so often.
Flickr/Jonathan Cutrer
Who knows how long these fascinating creatures will remain aboveground?

Have you ever seen a vinegaroon? If so, tell us all about the encounter in the comments section! Check out our previous article for more Texas bugs you wouldn’t want to come face to face with.

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Big Bend National Park, TX, USA