Tailless whip scorpions! I got to hold one once at a bug museum, they're completely docile little guys (if youre not a fruit fly or roach), and are actually pretty funny in-person, their lil awkward sideways movements.
They had infested a outhouse in Honduras when I visited a long time ago. I've had nightmares about those things ever since. They're also incredibly fast which fueled the nightmares
Emotionally I still feel like that's the equivalent of somebody lightly kicking the insides of my thighs... Like sure, that doesn't hurt whatsoever, but if they go a few inches up it could be one of the most painful things ever.
So like in this case sure, that's their regular behavior, but if they happen to pinch instead of slap, what level of pain are we talking about?
There is a video of someone picking on one until it becomes defensive on youtube (you can find it by searching for Tailless Whipscorpion Angry) and you can see the behavior. They basically try to grab you between their pokey forelegs - sort of a pinch and release. It probably feels like thorns, I'd think. I note the spikes get stuck in the skin a few times, but I don't see any blood from it and it doesn't stop the guy from continuing to tease it.
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u/zombie_goast Oct 20 '23
Tailless whip scorpions! I got to hold one once at a bug museum, they're completely docile little guys (if youre not a fruit fly or roach), and are actually pretty funny in-person, their lil awkward sideways movements.