Two Scorpion Species

I have noted two very different scorpions in the Esperance region, one small and the other quite large. They are nocturnal feeders and the best time to see them is in the warmer weather, particularly after rain. However, scorpions are able to live for long periods (to 12 months) without food or water, so they can be very secretive and to see them wandering around is not an overly common event.

Scorpions have between six and twelve eyes, but these are very small and not very effective, however they have parts that are highly sensitive to movement and ground vibrations. With these they can detect mates and prey, the latter (depending on the size of the scorpion) can include beetles, spiders, other scorpions, centipedes, reptiles, frogs and small mammals. They are preyed upon by nocturnal birds, mammals, reptiles, centipedes and other scorpions, so life can also be hazardous.

This scorpion is at the smaller end as far as Australian scorpions are concerned, these are usually around 3 cm in length and very slender.

Marbled Scorpion, Lychas marmoreus

This speckled species is a Marbled Scorpion or Lychas marmoreus, but according to the WA Museum it belongs to a group of animals that are currently being revised and will be placed in a new genus.

Note how flat this scorpion is, permitting it to live under leaf litter, rocks and logs.

Although a small scorpion, its sting can be more painful than other larger Australian species. However these and all Australian scorpions are not dangerous to people, unlike some deadly African and American species.

These Marbled Scorpions are amongst the most mobile and common of the Australian species and do on occasion enter houses, but are more often found under items lying around the garden.

The larger species (to around 10 cm in length) are very chunky and heavily armoured, however its sting is likened only to that of a bee, so visually it is far more ferocious than it actually is.

These scorpions are called Sand Scorpions (Urodacus species, currently under revision) because they build deep spiralling burrows in sandy soils. They normally don't move far from their entrance, whilst lying in wait to ambush passing prey.

Sand Scorpion, Urodacus species

The large claws are used to grasp the prey whilst bringing the stinger down to dispatch it. After a while the injected digestive juices turn the inner contents of the dead animal turn to a soup, which is then consumed up by the scorpion. There is very little wastage with this process and few meals a year are required.

Note the stinger and how it points outwards to make striking more efficient and probably more powerful by being able to thrust with its weight, rather than a weaker downward stabbing motion. This downward stabbing motion (of the fangs) is used by the burrowing mygalomorph spiders, but with their anatomy they can get more power/weight using this attack mode.

Scorpions can take up to six years to reach sexual maturity and may even live for 25 years or more. So if you have any, you have plenty of time to get to know them.