Wikijunior:Bugs/Scorpion

What does it look like?

Scorpions are relatively large. Their average length is 1-5/8 to 5 inches long. Some scorpions can grow to over 8 inches. Scorpions have claws and resemble small lobsters. They have 2 body segments, no antennae, and 4 pairs of legs. They have a stiff outer covering (exoskeleton) and jointed legs. There are two large pincers in front. The pincers have sticky ends to pick up prey and to climb.

Scorpions have a midsection (cephalothorax) and an abdomen. The tail is made up of the last five segments of the abdomen. The tail curves upward. There is a poisonous “sting” at the end of the tail. There are 2 eyes in the center of the midsection and 2 to 5 eyes on each side. A few scorpion species are blind. Males are usually longer and more slender than their counterparts. Males also have long tails. Scorpions living in desert regions are light yellow or brown. Scorpions living in mountains are black or brown. Scorpions glow in the dark when ultraviolet light shines on them.

Scorpions have been on Earth about 400 million years. They lived on Earth before dinosaurs arrived 230 million years ago. Scorpion fossils have been found in Scotland. Fossils show that ancient scorpions were twice as big as scorpions today. Gigantoscorpio  and Brontoscorpio fossils are 14 inches to 3 feet long.

The longest scorpion in the world today is the Flat Rock Scorpion of South Africa. It can be over 8 inches long. The Emperor Scorpion of Africa can be 7 inches long. The smallest scorpions are in the Microtityus group. They are less than ½ inch long.

Arizona Bark Scorpions are 2 to 3 inches long. They have a long, slender tail. They are tan with darker coloring on the back. Some have stripes or patterns. They glow a bright bluish color under a black light.

Slender Brown Scorpions are reddish with a blue-tinted tail. They have a slender body. In Florida, they are called Red Forest Scorpions and Red Bark Scorpions. In Cuba, they are called Dusky Scorpions and Brown Scorpions, which means “scorpion blue”. Adult males are 2 to 6 inches long. Adult females are 2-1/2 to 4 inches long.

South African Fat-tailed Scorpions and Brown Fat-tailed Scorpions can be 4 inches in length. They are reddish-brown, dark-brown, or black. Their curved tail is very thick. Their pincers and tail have tiny hairs to detect movement. Their feet have sensory hairs to detect surface changes where they walk or climb.

Giant Forest Scorpions are stout and bulky. They have thick body plates (exoskeleton) and very large pincers. They are black in color and may have a blue or green shine. They are 4 to 5 inches long.

African Red Clawed Scorpions are about 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 inches long. They have a black body with either dark-red or light-red claws.

Emperor Scorpions are very large. Adults are about 7-3/4 inches. They are shiny black and glow light green or blue under ultraviolet light. They have two large blackish-red pincers in front. There is a sting at the end of the long tail.

A burrowing scorpion from South Africa

Where does it live?

Scorpions live in harsh environments. They are found in deserts, tropical forests and savannas. They live on all continents except Greenland and Antarctica. Scorpions have been found at sea level and high in the mountains. They cannot live in areas with permafrost or thick grasses. The soil in these places is packed too tightly. They need loose soil to dig burrows. They live in burrows, cracks, or under rocks and bark.

Arizona Bark Scorpions are well adapted to desert habitats. They live in dry, arid regions, near streams or other bodies of water. They live in Arizona and other southwestern states. They are found at the Grand Canyon. They live in the Sonora Desert of northwestern Mexico. They hide in shady places when the sun is out. They can be seen high in rock crevasses, in trees, and under rocks. Sometimes they are found inside people’s homes. They are active at night (nocturnal). They hunt for prey in the dark.

Slender Brown Scorpions live in North America, South America, and Africa. There are only a few Slender Brown Scorpions left in Europe. They can be found in rainforests, savannas, forests, and arid regions. They need to live in places where average temperatures are about 85 degrees Fahrenheit. They cannot live where humidity is too high. They make homes under bark, rocks, and fallen trees. They live among tropical plants (Bromeliads) that grow on the ground. They also live in epiphytic plants—Spanish moss, orchids, and ferns.

Emperor Scorpions are native to Africa. They can be found in the Congo, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and other African countries. They live in hot humid, rainforests and tropical savannas. They dig burrows in the soil or under rocks and logs. Sometimes their burrows are under termite mounds or tree roots.

Brown and South African Fat-tailed Scorpions are both found in northern and western Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. They live in dry, arid regions, savannas, and rainforests.

Giant Forest Scorpions live in tropical and subtropical areas of southeastern Asia.

African Red Clawed Scorpions live on the floor of African rainforests.

Brown and South African Fat-Tailed Scorpions live in arid regions of the Middle East and Africa. They live in Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.

What does it eat?

Scorpions eat spiders and insects. Some species eat other scorpions. Their pincers grab the prey. The poisonous sting on the end of the tail kills it. Each species has a type of venom suited to kill its preferred prey.

Arizona Bark Scorpions eat small insects, spiders, and other scorpions. They have pincers and a venomous tail to catch and kill prey.

Giant Forest Scorpions have large pincers used for crushing prey.

Emperor Scorpions eat insects, mice, and small lizards. They use sensory hairs to locate prey. They grab prey with pincers. They crush it with their large claws.

Brown Fat-tailed Scorpions eat spiders, insects, lizards, and mice. They will eat other scorpions. They hold and crush their prey. They hurt it with a venomous sting.

African Red Clawed Scorpions eat insects, frogs, small rodents, spiders, and mites. They will eat other scorpions. They have a mild sting. They use their claws to crush and hurt their prey.

How does it defend itself?

Most scorpions use their claws and poisonous tail to sting and defend against predators.

Emperor Scorpions hide under rocks or logs. They use their large claws and venom for defense.

African Red Clawed Scorpions repeatedly sting their attacker when threatened.

A scorpion carrying its young on her back.

What stages of metamorphosis does it go through?

Scorpions undergo incomplete metamorphosis. The eggs hatch inside the adult’s body. Then she gives birth to live young. Species in temperate climates give birth in spring and summer. In hot tropical climates, they give birth throughout the year. Baby scorpions are called “scorplings.”  The average number born in a litter is 25. But the number born can be from 1 to 100.

At birth, scorplings are white and covered by a thin membrane. They leave the membrane to crawl onto the adult’s back. At this point, they have no defenses. They look like small adults. After the first molt they leave the adult’s back. Then they can live alone and catch their own prey. As they grow they shed their outer covering. It can take 5 years to become an adult. Scorpions’ average life span in the wild is 3 to 8 years..

A scorpion fluoresces (glows) under a black light. Under regular light, this scorpion is black.

What special behavior does it exhibit?

Each scorpion species has a special type of venom to kill their chosen prey.

Scorpions have specialized survival skills. They can slow their metabolism when food is scarce. They can survive by eating as little as 1 insect per year.

Scorpions are able to live in extreme environments. They are unharmed if frozen overnight and thawed out in the morning.

Their body temperature is affected by the surrounding temperature. They must stay warm to be active.

Most scorpions are solitary, living by themselves. There are exceptions. Arizona Bark Scorpions hibernate with others of their own species. They spend the winter together under bark or in fallen trees. Sometimes family groups work together to capture prey. Offspring of some species stay with the adult for weeks, months, or years. Emperor Scorpions have been observed living in small colonies. They are social but become aggressive if cornered.

Emperor Scorpions will burrow through termite mounds up to 6 feet deep to find prey. They can slow their metabolism enough to go a year without food.

Slender Brown Scorpion females can give birth to different colored scorplings in a single litter.

African Red Clawed Scorpions often do not get along with the others of their kind and are cannibalistic. They will also eat babies of their own.

Scorpions become active at night. They glow in the dark (fluoresce) under ultraviolet (uv) light. Biologists use uv lights to study scorpions at night.

How does this bug affect people?

In general, most scorpions are not dangerous. They do not attack people, but they will sting if threatened. Emperor Scorpions look fearsome but are really timid. Some people like them for pets.  Giant Forest Scorpions and African Red Clawed Scorpions still have mild venom and are popular as pets.

About 30 to 40 species worldwide have lethal venom. Two species in Arizona have deadly stings. But, the poison of most North American species is not deadly. Arizona Bark Scorpions have very potent venom. Their sting is hazardous to human health. In rare instances, it can be deadly. Brown and South African Fat-tailed Scorpions are very aggressive. They are one of the most dangerous scorpion species in the world. Their stings cause several human deaths each year.

Slender Brown Scorpion venom is thought to be useful as anti-inflammatory medicine. People like Slender Brown Scorpions as pets. They are not known to prey on other scorpions. They can be kept with other species of scorpions as long as shelter and food are available. Blue Scorpions should not be mistaken for a species called the Giant Blue Scorpion, another name for the Malaysian Forest Scorpion (H. spinifer). The Giant Blue Scorpion is fairly deadly. It is often confused with Slender Brown Scorpions and Emperor Scorpions.

Scorpions are an important part of many ecosystems. They are helpful in controlling insect pests. They are harmful because their spike can be painful.

References

Borror, D.J. & White, A.E. (Eds.). (1978). The Fiftieth Anniversary Edition, Roger Tory Peterson Field Guides, Insects of America North of Mexico. Norwalk, CT: The Easton Press.

Milne, L. & Milne, M. (2009). National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders. New York, NY: Alfred A Knopf.

https://a-z-animals.com (Scorpion Insect Facts/Scorpiones)

https://acis.cals.arizona.edu (Scorpions of the Desert Southwest)

http://animaldiversity.org

https://www.britannica.com (Scorpion – Ecology and habitats)

https://entomology.ca.uky.edu (Scorrpions of Ky)

https://kids.kiddie.com (fat-tail scorpion)

https://www.nationalgeographic.com (Scorpion)

https://www.nps.gov

https://www.ntnu.no (The Scorpion Files-Centruroides gracilis, Buthidae)

https://www.orkin.com (Slender Brown Scorpion )

https://planetzooo.fandom.com (giant forest scorpion)

https://www.scorpionworlds.com (fat-tail scorpion)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhopalurus (Rhopalurus junceus)