Category Archives: Arachnids

Deathstalker Scorpion

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Deathstalker Scorpion

 

Deathstalker Scorpion - Leiurus quinquestriatus

Deathstalker / Photographer: Tola Kokoza

Deathstalker Scorpion Description

Regardless if you call it the Israeli Yellow Scorpion or the Deathstalker Scorpion, this is very dangerous arachnid to come into contact with. They have some of the most dangerous and powerful venom in the world. This is why  they are a type of Scorpion that many people are fearful of.

They have a powerful sting when they do inject the venom. The sight of the wound may hurt for many hours. There are studies though that show some forms of health problems may be able to be offset with this type of venom used correctly. Only time will tell if they are able to use it without side effects or long term problems. That is why the study of their venom continues to take place.

The Deathstalker Scorpion falls into the category of a medium sized Scorpion. They can range in size depending on their location and amount of food. However, they won’t get more than 4 inches in size. The females are usually a full inch larger than the males. They have different coloration too depending on where you find them.

This is one Scorpion that has the florescent coloring to them. They have a glowing yellow or green to them. They also have limbs that are very thin. This gives them the impression that they are very fragile and even gooey looking.

While they do have pinchers that are larger than other species of Scorpions they aren’t very powerful at all. In fact they can’t hold on to their prey long at all with them. They must rapidly inject the venom if they want to secure a meal. Otherwise it will be getting free of their grasp in a few seconds.

Deathstalker Scorpion Behavior 

This is also believed to be one of the most aggressive types of Scorpions. They are highly unpredictable. They will bite if they are threatened but they will also bite in order to defend their territory. In spite of such facts though the demand for them as pets continues to grow.

Many people own them illegally too. This is because they have to hold a special license in many locations to have one. They don’t want to deal with all of that so they buy it on the black market. Should they get bitten though or someone else be bitten you can be sure that the medical facility is going to be reporting it for investigation to see if such licensing is in place or not.

Deathstalker Scorpion Habitat and Distribution

Even though you can now find the Deathstalker Scorpion just about anywhere, they originally are found inNorth Africaand theMiddle East.Egypt,Ethiopia, and areas ofAlgeriaare common locations where they are found. They tend to do the best in areas that offer plenty of humidity as well as warm temperatures. They can adapt to less humidity and less than 75 degrees Fahrenheit though. However, they tend to be more aggressive when they are in different living conditions.

Since many people love to have this type of Scorpion as a pet they have made their way all over the world. It isn’t always legal but the demand for them is so high that they are often sold on the black market. It is very difficult to estimate how many of them are kept as pets or what all regions this covers.

Deathstalker Scorpion Feeding Habits 

If you do have a Deathstalker Scorpion as a pet you need to limit the amount of food you give it. They have the ability to store up large amounts of food. However, they really don’t need it in order to survive. You can feed them crickets, meal worms, and grasshoppers a couple of times a week.

They mainly dine on crickets in the wild. They will find live prey when they can but when that is tough they will submit to considering what has died and been left behind. They have to inject venom into prey to create a liquid they can suck out of them.

Deathstalker Scorpion Reproduction 

Mating can be a complex process with the female in complete control over it. The males will come looking for her and she will decide to let them stay and perform dances for her or not. She may decide to mate, to chase them off, or to eat them. There is no real understanding of why she makes a particular choice.

They are going to be mature around 5 years of age and that is also about their average life span. This is why they will only get one real chance to mate. Many of the males will die before they have successfully done so.

The gestation period will range from 2 up to 5 months, based on location and food availability. There can be as many as 30 born at one time. They will crawl onto the back of their mother and remain there until they molt the first time. This generally occurs when they are several weeks old. Then they will have to try to survive on their own.

Venomous Bite or Danger to Humans 

In spite of such as serious name, the Deathstalker Scorpion is responsible for very few deaths. Those that due die from it usually don’t seek medical treatment. They often have serious allergies or a heart condition too and that means the venom can spread fast and do lots of damage. It can result in the lungs filling up with fluid or the air ways closing up.

Bite Treatment or Care 

This is why you should always be well prepared. Any time you or someone you know is bitten by a Scorpion it needs to be looked at by medical professionals. If it is a Deathstalker Scorpion there is a great anti venom that can be administered. Combined with painkillers and antihistamines most people start to feel much better in a couple of hours. Within a day or two they will be released from the hospital with further instructions for care.

Enroute to the hospital you need to apply ice to the area of the bite. This will help to reduce pain and to slow the process of swelling. When you are in a facility where you can wash it with soap and water you should do so. Have someone else drive to the hospital too as some of the serious effects including fatigue and drowsiness so you have no business behind the wheel of a vehicle.

The pain will be very intense which is why the first course of action is going to be giving pain medication. Be prepared for paint to come and go over the next several months. It is mainly going to be felt around the joint areas of the body. This is especially true if the bite location is close to a joint.

Many people find that they become very tired after they have had such a sting. They will find it takes several weeks to get their strength back. Try to exercise daily, eat right, and get plenty of sleep to help speed up the recovery process. Headaches are very often reported and they may be mild or a migraine. They may come and go or they may linger for days at a time.

 

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Emperor Scorpion

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Emperor Scorpion

 

Emperor Scorpion - Pandinus imperator

Emperor Scorpion - Photo Taken by Já

 

Emperor Scorpion Description

Most people are familiar with the look of the Emperor Scorpion. It is sometimes referred to as the Imperial Scorpion as well. They are known to be the largest species out there and that is why they get so much attention. However, there are false rumors that they are also the most powerful in terms of their venom.

While a bite from one is definitely going to hurt the venom they release isn’t nearly as powerful as what you will find from many other species of Scorpions out there. The females are able to grow as large as 7 ½ inches. The males will usually be about an inch or more smaller than that.

The region where these Scorpions live though will determine the overall size. Some are found to be about 5 inches long. When they are young they are white in color and then as they get more mature they turn darker and darker. After about 7 molting periods they will be a very dark brown or a very dark black. They also have an outline of greenish tint to them that is the result of fluorescent.

The coloring of them allows them to be able to blend into their surroundings with ease. This also is a reason why they are often misidentified though. People who see them in any color other than the dark black don’t think they are coming into contact with the Emperor Scorpion.

The overall body design of this Scorpion is very different too. It features a wide abdomen and a tail that is longer than most species. They look very unsettling to the eyes of most humans as well because of the huge size of their pinchers.

Emperor Scorpion Behavior

The Emperor Scorpion certainly has a terrible reputation out there. Yet studies show them to be one of the most shy when it comes to the species out there – and more than 1,700 of them exist. The fact that this is the type of Scorpion used in various Hollywood movies though really gives people the perception that they are driving to bite and kill humans. The reality of it though is that Hollywood chose them due to the fear factor and the fact that they are gentle to work with.

You may think it is strange to see this particular type of Scorpion out during the day. They will be active though after a rain so that they can take advantage of the extra food that is around. Otherwise it is going to be mainly at night when you will be able to see them about.

Studies show that almost all of the bites from the Emperor Scorpion are the result of the creatures being surprised when humans come into their path. They are also by females who are naturally more aggressive. The biggest reason for that is they are often carrying young around on their back. They will fight in order to be able to protect them.

Emperor Scorpion Habitat and Distribution

Africa is the known place of origin for the Emperor Scorpion. Yet they are highly adaptable so they have been able to do well just about everywhere. This is one of the most common species of Scorpion that is kept as a pet. They are exported to places throughout the world.

These Scorpions do prefer to live in areas that are humid. They also need soil or sand that they can burrow in. When you have one as a pet you want to replicate the natural environment for them as much as possible. If you live in a cold climate then you need to provide a heat pad but only for half of their home. This way they can move to the other side if they get too warm.

Never use a heat light as all Scorpions have a very high sensitivity to light. You also want to offer them a light mist so that there will be humidity if you live in a dry climate. The combination of these efforts will reduce the aggressiveness of your pet Scorpion. It will also increase their life span.

Emperor Scorpion Feeding habits

The other thing you want to be careful of in captivity is how much you feed them. The Emperor Scorpion can do very well on little amounts of food. Yet they instinctively will consume large amounts of it if they can find it. You shouldn’t feed them more than 9 crickets each week.

When they are in the wild they will consume mainly termites. It is very easy for them to get into the mounds. They have the ability to burrow close to 6 feet under the ground to find such a resource for food! They are also well known to patiently wait in their burrow and then to ambush prey that comes by.

The combination of efforts including the hold by the pinchers, crushing them tightly around the body, and the injection of the venom means that prey very seldom is ever able to escape from the Emperor Scorpion. None of the Scorpion species are able to consume solid foods.

Instead they rely on the enzymes found in the venom to change the inside of the prey to a liquid. They are able to suck that out and then to leave the shell of the prey behind. This will later be consumed by other living things in the same environment.

You may have heard stories about the Emperor Scorpion taking part in cannibalistic behaviors. This is true, but mostly occurs with the females. It isn’t fully understood why they will sometimes consume their young. They will also consume males that they have mated with or that they don’t have any desire to mate with.

Emperor Scorpion Reproduction

The young are called Scorplings and there is usually about 12 of them born at a time. They will be carried in the body of the mother for a period of time that can be from 9 months to 18 months.

When they are born they will instinctively move from the legs of the mother that she uses as a type of basket for them as they come out. Then they will climb up to her back and remain there until they finish the first molt. If they don’t scatter when she gives them indictors to do so it will be too late for them – she will consume them.

Venomous Bite or Danger to Humans

Even though the toxin level of the venom is very dangerous it, it isn’t going to be life threatening. However, the bite can be extremely painful so put ice on it to help reduce the pain. You should wash it with soap and water too.

Bite Treatment or Care

There are individuals with an allergic reaction to the venom. As a result their air ways will start to swell up. They need to seek immediate medical care to avoid this problem. There is also a problem with individuals who suffer from heart problems. This type of venom could make them very dangerous.

Those individuals that have allergies are more likely to suffer from adverse reactions. If you know what type of Scorpion you have been bitten by it can really help the medical time to offer you the most effective form of treatment.

 

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