This is the adorable moment a mother scorpion carried her babies while looking for food on the forest floor in Texas.

Insect enthusiast and nature lover Justin Doll found the arachnid family while hiking in West Central Texas on October 3.

The babies were huddled together on her back as she made her way through dried leaves and wood.

Justin said he found many interesting insects during the trip, but the diligent scorpion mum was his favourite.

He said: 'Nature is interesting. I am amazed to see the mother take all of her babies wherever she goes.'

Scorpion youngs are born alive rather than hatch from eggs like other insects. At birth, their shells are very soft so they crawl onto their mother’s back for up to four weeks until they become stiff and hard.