Euscorpius flavicaudis field trip
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Euscorpius flavicaudis field trip
My goodness what a weekend!
James and I were privileged enough to be allowed to visit and be involved with the study of one of the Euscorpius flavicaudis colonies here in the UK. This was my first field trip, the first of many more to come and what an awesome experience it was.
I know I have seen my scorpions fluoresce under a UV light. But catching my first wild scorpion in the UV torch beam was incredible. In a crack in a wall, chela were glowing green! The excitement is indescribable.
Where the colony is located, it is a wonderful micro habitat mainly consisting of 3 alien species, obviously the Euscorpius flavicaudis but also Sergestia florentina, one of the most venomous spiders in the UK and a tropical species of woodlice (the scientific name escapes me at the moment!) And the three species thrive together. the woodlice obviously munch through rotting vegetation, and the Sergestia and Euscorpius munch on them.
By the same token the Sergestia and the Euscorpius also feed on each other! we found several scorpions trapped in webs and we were lucky enough to find a Euscorpius feasting on an adult Sergestia
I am very pleased to report that the original colony is going strong. I would tell you more but I have been asked to keep it brief so the full report can go into the BTS journal.
I will add some pictures later when I have chance to download, then upload them!
we did collect some specimens, we hope to get them breeding in captivity
James and I were privileged enough to be allowed to visit and be involved with the study of one of the Euscorpius flavicaudis colonies here in the UK. This was my first field trip, the first of many more to come and what an awesome experience it was.
I know I have seen my scorpions fluoresce under a UV light. But catching my first wild scorpion in the UV torch beam was incredible. In a crack in a wall, chela were glowing green! The excitement is indescribable.
Where the colony is located, it is a wonderful micro habitat mainly consisting of 3 alien species, obviously the Euscorpius flavicaudis but also Sergestia florentina, one of the most venomous spiders in the UK and a tropical species of woodlice (the scientific name escapes me at the moment!) And the three species thrive together. the woodlice obviously munch through rotting vegetation, and the Sergestia and Euscorpius munch on them.
By the same token the Sergestia and the Euscorpius also feed on each other! we found several scorpions trapped in webs and we were lucky enough to find a Euscorpius feasting on an adult Sergestia
I am very pleased to report that the original colony is going strong. I would tell you more but I have been asked to keep it brief so the full report can go into the BTS journal.
I will add some pictures later when I have chance to download, then upload them!
we did collect some specimens, we hope to get them breeding in captivity
Lisa Baines- Moderators
- Number of posts : 264
Age : 45
Location : Halifax, West Yorkshire
Registration date : 2009-03-21
Re: Euscorpius flavicaudis field trip
Nice one Lisa, this colony was in Kent aye or?
Looking forward to pics..
Looking forward to pics..
Re: Euscorpius flavicaudis field trip
aye... somewhere in Kent
Lisa Baines- Moderators
- Number of posts : 264
Age : 45
Location : Halifax, West Yorkshire
Registration date : 2009-03-21
Re: Euscorpius flavicaudis field trip
Awesome, I thought about going down there.. it would have been awesome to see them.
But I heard it was private property and no one was aloud near them or something meh lol.
But I heard it was private property and no one was aloud near them or something meh lol.
Re: Euscorpius flavicaudis field trip
yeah you have to have permission to see this particular colony
Lisa Baines- Moderators
- Number of posts : 264
Age : 45
Location : Halifax, West Yorkshire
Registration date : 2009-03-21
Re: Euscorpius flavicaudis field trip
Thats great Lisa !, Good luck breeding them
Carn't wait to see the pics ..
Carn't wait to see the pics ..
Luke- Moderators
- Number of posts : 288
Age : 29
Location : warwickshire
Registration date : 2009-04-05
Re: Euscorpius flavicaudis field trip
what fun we had eh Lisa?
i've been out for native spiders before but never native scorps...this was something special indeed
i've been out for native spiders before but never native scorps...this was something special indeed
corpselight- Arachnoholic Member
- Number of posts : 171
Location : North London
Registration date : 2009-05-22
Re: Euscorpius flavicaudis field trip
I am still finding splinters in my fingers as well hahaha!
Lisa Baines- Moderators
- Number of posts : 264
Age : 45
Location : Halifax, West Yorkshire
Registration date : 2009-03-21
Re: Euscorpius flavicaudis field trip
haha you had no luck avoiding local flora!
i got stung by nettles but that faded pretty quickly
i got stung by nettles but that faded pretty quickly
corpselight- Arachnoholic Member
- Number of posts : 171
Location : North London
Registration date : 2009-05-22
Re: Euscorpius flavicaudis field trip
you should see my right leg where that bramble snared me. 6" scrape!
Lisa Baines- Moderators
- Number of posts : 264
Age : 45
Location : Halifax, West Yorkshire
Registration date : 2009-03-21
Re: Euscorpius flavicaudis field trip
i am sure i had less protection to! lol!
anyone would think we were in the middle of no-where roughing it through unspeakably inhospitable terrain
anyone would think we were in the middle of no-where roughing it through unspeakably inhospitable terrain
corpselight- Arachnoholic Member
- Number of posts : 171
Location : North London
Registration date : 2009-05-22
Lisa Baines- Moderators
- Number of posts : 264
Age : 45
Location : Halifax, West Yorkshire
Registration date : 2009-03-21
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