Sharon Agnew, age 13, of Winston Salem, N.C., for her question:

WHAT IS A VINEGARROON?

A vinegarroon is a large whip scorpion found in Mexico and the southern part of the United States. When disturbed, a vinegarroon will emit a volatile fluid that has the odor of vinegar. The creature is about two and a half inches long.

A scorpion is not an insect. It belongs to a class of animals called arachnids. Spiders and ticks belong to the same class.

There are about 20 different kinds of scorpions living in the United States and Canada. Although they are usually found in warm sections, some live as far north as Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada.

While a scorpion has a dangerous, poisonous sting, the wound is painful but does not usually cause death.