LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — A creepy mixture between a spider and a scorpion has been spotted in the Mountains Edge community and caught at least one person a little off guard.
The creature's common name is the camel spider, wind scorpion or sun spider. Biologists say the insect is not a spider or a scorpion, it's a cousin to both.
One homeowner came across the bug earlier this month and whipped out his phone after discovering it walking across a patio area in Mountains Edge.
"A lot of people freak out because that thing looks like something out of a nightmare, it really does look so dangerous," said Trent English, with Truly Nolen.
English says the creature comes with a nightmare resume that includes powerful pincers and an appetite for other critters that can be found in homes, such as crickets and cockroaches.
The wind scorpion has the largest jaws compared to its body size than any other known creature on earth.
It is non-venomous and is typically harmless to humans.
"They have these giant mandibles that if you are actually bit by one, it's not a pleasant experience," said English.
On Monday, the Southern Nevada Health District tweeted a video of a recent mosquito trap in the Las Vegas valley.
The agency reports at least 4 zip codes have mosquitoes that have tested positive for West Nile Virus.
- 89014
- 89074
- 89120
- 89122
All four zip codes are located on the east side of the Las Vegas valley.
VIEW: WEEKLY SOUTHERN NEVADA HEALTH DISTRICT MOSQUITO VIRUS TRACKING
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 5 people who are infected with West Nile Virus develop a fever and other symptoms. About 1 out of 150 infected people develop serious, sometimes fatal, illness.
VIEW: OTHER SOUTHERN NEVADA HEALTH DISTRICT SURVEILLANCE REPORTS
Experts suggest eliminating any standing water from around properties to reduce the risk of mosquitoes.
