Scorpions

Most are not poisonous, except for two species found in the southwestern states like Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas. Scorpions are commonly thought of as desert animals, but in fact, they occur in many other habitats as well, including grasslands and savannahs, deciduous forests, pine forests, rain forest and caves.

Scorpions are nocturnal, predatory animals that feed on a variety of insects, spiders, centipedes, and other scorpions. The larger scorpions occasionally feed on vertebrates, such as smaller lizards, snakes, and mice. Prey are located primarily by sensing vibrations.

Although scorpions are equipped with venom to defend themselves, scorpions fall prey to many types of creatures, such as centipedes, tarantulas, insectivorous lizards, birds (especially owls), and mammals (including shrews, grasshopper mice, bats). Scorpions feed mainly on insects and spiders and can survive without feeding for six months. During the day scorpions hide under stones, in piles of rocks, in cracks in masonry, in wood piles and under the bark of trees. Scorpions enter structures seeking water and shelter.

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Scorpions have long, slender body with a 5-segmented tail that be arched over the back. Varies between species, but most measure about 2 inches fully grown. Can vary widely between yellow, blue, reddish brown, and black. Most of the scorpions that enter dwellings are not poisonous, their stings like those of bees or wasps.

A typical non poisonous scorpion is the common striped Centruroides vittatus, Striped back scorpion. This species is widely distributed in the southern United States. It has 2 broad, dark bands extending the length of the back, on an otherwise yellowish-brown body.

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