Scorpions breathe through four pairs of book lungs on the underside of their abdomens.

The stuff of nightmares and haunter of dreams, that’s how we generally think of scorpions! Their scuttling walk, prehistoric appearance and the point of potential pain on the end of their tail all add up to a creature that we generally prefer to avoid.

Most entomologists however would beg to differ. Found across the world, from backyards to the harshest desert, scorpions are as varied in their habits as they are in their habitats. They are mainly nocturnal, but some are active during the day. They like to live in damp places under rocks and logs, but some dig spiral shaped burrows deep into the hot desert sand. The largest Australian scorpions grow up to twelve centimetres in length, but others are tiny. North Aussie scorpions differ from their Southern buddies by being larger and more venomous. Unlike in the US, there are no lethal scorpions (to healthy adults) in Australia.

Scorpions have tails with a sting on the tip and pincers on the end of long arms. These more obvious accoutrements are only slightly less amazing than their six to twelve eyes which are sensitive to low light intensities and give them the ability to navigate by starlight or moonlight. The scorpion is aquiver with sensory hairs that can pick up the slightest vibration and most delicate of scents. Truly a sensory superbug! The seemingly mundane exterior of the scorpion is jazzed up significantly if you look at it under ultra-violet light. Then they fluoresce, as if they are attending an eighties disco, and scientists use special lights and the scorpion’s ‘bling’ to find them in the field.

One of the worrying things about scorpions is the pointy tip at the end of their tails. Most Australian scorpions will give you a sting that causes inflammation and pain for a number of hours, however they are not generally considered dangerous to humans. Staff at the Australian Museum suggest that you wear good gloves and shoes while rummaging around in your garden or shed. Another great tip is to not leave your shoes and gloves lying around where a scorpion can creep inside unseen If you are stung apply an ice pack and seek medical aid if the pain persists. In the meantime perhaps the knowledge that these hardworking, misunderstood bugs are ridding your garden of pests will help ease the discomfort.

Interesting scorpion facts

Scorpions are arachnids, which means that they are related to animals such as spiders, ticks and mites.

The scorpion's whole body will fluoresce in UV light

Scorpions eat small insects including termites.

They digest their prey by pouring digestive juices onto the prey and breaking it up with their jaws.

Female scorpions are more heavily built than males, with shorter tails.

Scorpions do not mate directly, but the male deposits a packet of sperm on the ground, and guides the female by holding her pincers with his pincers to move over the ground and the sperm package is picked up by the female genital opening during this ‘dance’.

The fertilised eggs develop inside her body, and she then gives birth to live young.

She carries the pale young scorpions on her back for the first few days or weeks, until they are strong enough to become independent. The young then disperse to find food and shelter.

Scorpions take a long time to reach maturity, moulting frequently (up to five or six times over two to six years) in order to grow, and may live for two to ten years. Some have been recorded as living up to 25 years.

One of the scorpions we are most likely to see in our area is the pictured Little Marbled Scorpion (Lychas marmoreus). This species grows to 25-35mm. Across southern Australia it is found under bark, rocks and in leaf litter.  It’s also  sometimes found in our houses, which is where I discovered this one. Once I had photographed it, I hastily put it outside in the garden!

Until next time – take care all.

Kay