Scorpions I found in Italy (picture warning!)

[Supergrunch]

I posted a bit about this in Meaningless, but I feel it deserves its own thread. Basically, when I was on holiday in Italy, I came across this in front of the fridge:

 

 

Now, I ended up capturing it and putting it in a tub so that it wouldn't sting anyone, and was able to take a picture showing that it wasn't the gargantuan beast suggested by the first picture:

 

 

Now, I looked up how dangerous they are, and it seems that these ones are about as dangerous as wasps. However, I wasn't too keen on walking around in bare feet after this incident.

 

The next day, I came across a far bigger one crawling down the wall outside the house, and caught it too:

 

 

As you can see, it had a load of crap on its back, possibly cobwebs or the remains of some kind of egg sac. My friend removed most of it with a rolled up bit of paper, and this angered the scorpion. (compared to the first, relatively docile one, it had quite a temper) It tried to sting the paper, but thankfully didn't do any damage to anyone. Anyhoo, after a day or so I released them both, a fair way from the house.

 

Observing them running around was quite frankly wonderful. They have such a perfect air of maliciousness about them, and remind me of a finely honed machine. They quite literally scuttle, and move fast when they need to.

 

Discuss.

[mariosmentor]

Why didn't you make them do battle?

[Supergrunch]

Why didn't you make them do battle?

Unfortuately, I had released the first before finding the second. However, I'm sure the second would have reigned triumphant.

[Guest Jordan]

They look huge... till you see theres a 1p next to it.

[Coolness Bears]

They are so tiny. Aww! they're cute

 

You should of befriended a whole army of scorpions and make them to do your bidding unleashing an unstoppable force on Italy.....

[Letty]

I dont understand how they are so small!!

 

Do you actually get scorpions like the size of kittens? and things...

[mariosmentor]

[Daft]

Maybe we should just have a general 'Really disgustingly cool bugs thread'! I'd be up for that!

[Cube]

Do you actually get scorpions like the size of kittens? and things...

 

You can get some that are over 20cm in length.

[mariosmentor]

That'll be the Emperor Scorpion you see in movies like The Mummy. Most popular species for pets apparently because of relatively weak venom and a good lifespan(6-8 years).

 

I love wiki. Me feels smarts.

[Ginger_Chris]

That crap on the back of the second scorpion, I'd have an educated guess that they are the shed skins of the baby scorpions. Most female scorpions carry their young on their backs (what safer place is there than right under you tail?). They'll have had their first or second shed then buggered off to fend for themselves (the white colouration, most baby scorpions are really pale).

Anyway scorpion mating is fairly boring. Male produces a sac of sperm that he leaves on the ground, then when he finds a partner, they lock claws and "dance", with him leading her over the sperm sac, which she picks up. How boring is that?

 

How venomous a scorpions sting is, is almost directly proportional to the strength of its pincers. The emperor Scorpion has fairly large powerful claws which it uses to kill its prey doesn't need a powerful venom. Something like the golden scorpion or fat-tailed scorpion have weak pincers. They also live in arid conditions where food is scarce. Therefore if food comes by they have to definitely kill it quickly so It can't get away. Hence strong venom.

 

Oh and if your scared of Scorpions, carry a UV light, they tend to fluoresce.

 

EDIT: Up for the disgusting bugs thread, I love all forms of invertebrate and know a shit load about them.

[Guest Jordan]

That crap on the back of the second scorpion, I'd have an educated guess that they are the shed skins of the baby scorpions. Most female scorpions carry their young on their backs (what safer place is there than right under you tail?). They'll have had their first or second shed then buggered off to fend for themselves (the white colouration, most baby scorpions are really pale).

Anyway scorpion mating is fairly boring. Male produces a sac of sperm that he leaves on the ground, then when he finds a partner, they lock claws and "dance", with him leading her over the sperm sac, which she picks up. How boring is that?

 

What did you expect? Some dodgy porno style violation of all the female scorpions holes? :p

[welsh_gamer]

WOW. The fact that they are so small is scary. They could of had been anywhere in your place!

 

Why did you have a penny with you in Italy tho? It's not like you could spend it. :wink:

[Fresh]

*Shudder* Urrrrgh

[Supergrunch]

Why did you have a penny with you in Italy tho? It's not like you could spend it. :wink:

Bah, I coldn't be bothered to take the change out of my wallet.

[AshMat]

What did you expect? Some dodgy porno style violation of all the female scorpions holes? :p

 

Made me LOLIRL.