This huge insect get into my house

Request help to identify insects or other creatures. Please post the location that the insect you want to identify came from, this will help greatly in species determination.
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unsown
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This huge insect get into my house

Post by unsown »

I’ve never seen this kind of insect before. It’s it harmful to people?
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kevinkk
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Re: This huge insect get into my house

Post by kevinkk »

YAH! Looks like some battle damage.
That is an arachnid, specifically a vinegaroon, Thelyphonida. Completely harmless, more or less, they are not poisonous, but they do have a fright
factor.
unsown
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Re: This huge insect get into my house

Post by unsown »

Thank you so much! I feel released. Next time I could do better.
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adamcotton
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Re: This huge insect get into my house

Post by adamcotton »

These are also known as 'whip scorpions' due to the long thin appendage on the abdomen. They have no sting, unlike a true scorpion, but exude strong acid which has a very distinct smell, and probably can burn skin if the acid comes into contact with it.

I sometimes see them near my house here in Thailand, especially during the rainy season. I didn't realise they are also present in Europe, since you appear to be in Germany, but perhaps you live somewhere else.

Adam.
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livingplanet3
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Re: This huge insect get into my house

Post by livingplanet3 »

The species in the photo appears to be Mastigoproctus giganteus -

https://bugguide.net/node/view/29752

It's a North American species, and doesn't range into Europe. Apart from M. giganteus, there are various other whip scorpion species in the American tropics / subtropics, a single species in Africa (Etienneus africanus), and many species in the Asian tropics (including the large genus Thelyphonus).
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