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Dictator Of The Scorpion World: The Emperor Scorpion

January 7th, 2010 Posted in Spiders & Other Arachnids

One of the largest species of scorpions in the world, the emperor scorpion rules the scorpion kingdom. The emperor scorpion is native to Africa and is often found throughout the United States as a household pet.

The scorpion’s tail is its most deadly feature because it can cause a wide range of reactions (depending on a person’s sensitivity). Scorpions aren’t your typical pest, but that is what makes them unique.

Want to learn more about the emperor scorpion’s:

• Appearance
• Life Cycle
• Special Adaptations

Appearance

The emperor scorpion is one of the largest species of scorpions in the world, but not the longest. They grow very quickly (as far as scorpions go) and grow to an average of 4 to 8 inches in length. The emperor scorpion’s body is blue and black. It has sensory hairs on its pincers and tail that help it feel the environment around it.

The scorpion’s tail is a powerful tool for its defense and helpful for when it’s on the hunt. This powerful tail is broken up into 6 segments. The end of the tail (called the tenson) contains the venom glands the scorpion uses for stinging.

The emperor scorpion’s thorax is made up of 4 different parts with a pair of legs per section. As a member of the arachnid family, the scorpion is a close relative of the spider. The 2 pincers (located in the front of his body) are strong enough to draw blood from human skin and are a vital tool in the defense and offense of the emperor scorpion. Since it is the largest scorpion out there, it features (like its tail and pincers) are also larger than normal. This makes the emperor scorpion a powerful adversary.

Life Cycle

This species of scorpion is both nocturnal and solitary. They live in dark cracks and crevices located under rocks or foliage. The scorpion digs these holes with their first 2 pairs of legs, in order to make a small burrow.

As solitary creatures, they only leave their burrow to hunt. In their courtship dance, the male scorpion grasps the females claws and takes her to a location he finds suitable to mate in. Once impregnated, the female emperor scorpion gives birth to live young.

It takes about 9 to 18 months before scorpion young are born, dependent on the circumstances of the scorpion mother’s environment. On average, the female scorpion can birth 12 scorpions at a time. The mother scorpion defends her children and catches prey for them.

As they grow, the baby scorpions ride on their mother’s back. Once the baby scorpions have molted a few times, they begin to go off and hunt on their own. This venturing off eventually becomes more permanent with time and the newly full grown scorpions live on their own. The emperor scorpion’s life span is about 5 to 8 years in captivity, but much less in the wild.

Special Adaptations

The emperor scorpion is not only a unique member of the scorpion world, but of the insect world in general. Some of its special adaptations are the fact that it is a viviparous insect. Viviparous means giving birth to live young, which is unique because most insects give birth to eggs.

Another interesting adaptation is the fact the mother scorpions cares for her young during their early days. Normally, insects give birth to their young and then leave them to fend for themselves. Therefore, this is an uncommon behavior for the emperor scorpion to follow.

The scorpion doesn’t always use its poisonous venom, but uses its powerful pinching claws to capture prey. The emperor scorpion only uses its venom when the prey is struggling violently or it is too large for the pincers to tackle on their own. The venom in a scorpion sting is milder and less painful than a bee sting for a human. Some people are more sensitive to its affects, while others may feel almost nothing.

Scorpions are very dangerous, so it is best to consult a professional to deal with an infestation. But to deal with other household pests, use EcoSMART’s organic insecticides. Made with all natural chemicals, this insecticide is harmless if you spray it in your garden, your pet’s cage, or even in your kid’s bedroom.