Size: |
Scorpions in the adult stage are about 2-4 in (20-100
mm) long. |
Characteristics: |
Head and thorax are fused together, looking like a narrow shield;
abdomen is strongly segmented, the last 5 segments looking like a
tail, ending with a stinger which usually curves up; 4 pairs of legs;
pedipalps that look like lobster claws. |
Color: |
Scorpion adults are yellowish brown to tan, sometimes with stripes
or other markings. Newly born 1st instar nymphs are whitish, and stay
light in color for about 2-3 months. |
Geographic Range: |
Mainly in dry regions of the southwest United States, and also
in the south. In the west scorpions are found as far north as British
Columbia. |
Comparison with other species: |
The pseudoscorpion is much smaller, 3/16 in (5mm) long or less,
has a flat, oval body, and lacks a "tail" and stinger. The
whipscorpion has an oval abdomen, a long whip-like tail with no stinger,
and an extra long 1st pair of legs. |
Habitat: |
Outdoors scorpions hide in burrows, and under rocks, logs or debris.
Indoors they live in crawl spaces or attics, if temperatures stay
under 100 degrees F (38 degrees C). |
Food: |
Scorpions feed at night, mostly on insects and spiders, but sometimes
on each other! After catching large prey in the claw-like pedipalps,
the scorpion stings it repeatedly. Smaller claw-like parts munch the
food into tiny particles, to which a liquid from the scorpion's body
is added to make a "juice". A dry pellet is discarded after
feeding. With water nearby a scorpion can go for months without food. |
Biology: |
Scorpions give birth to living young, which crawl up onto the mothers'
backs, and stay until the 1st molt, 7-30 days later, then come down
to feed, scattering. They mature into adults in several months to
four years (6 molts). Adults may live for 1-6+ years. Sometimes a
lost body part may grow back, although the new one may be malformed. |
Invasion: |
They do not live very long indoors, and usually die by winter. However,
they can enter through small crevices and openings in a building. |
Damage: |
During the day scorpions hide in or beneath something. They are
active at night. Seeking shelter at dawn, they crawl into shoes, clothing,
folded blankets. Indoors they may be found in sinks or bath tubs where
they were seeking water. They may enter buildings, then move through
wall voids. |
