Field scorpion
| Field scorpion | ||||||||||||
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Field scorpion ( Buthus occitanus ) |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Buthus occitanus | ||||||||||||
| Amoreux , 1789 |
The field scorpion ( Buthus occitanus ) belongs to the genus Buthus within the family Buthidae . It is also known as the yellow scorpion and was first described in 1789 by the French naturalist Pierre-Joseph Amoreux .
description
The field scorpion reaches body lengths of 5 to 8 cm, a maximum of 10 to 12 cm. Generally the species is colored light yellow to dark brown. The upper side of the front body ( prosoma ) and the back plates of the front abdomen, the mesosoma , as well as the rear part of the abdomen, the so-called metasoma , which forms the "tail", all have clear calluses. The scissors ( pedipalps ) are quite narrow, while the poisonous bladder is relatively thick. Males and females can be distinguished by the number of comb teeth on their pectines , females have 30 comb teeth, whereas male field scorpions have a maximum of 36 comb teeth. Further characteristics: The Buthus occitanus has 5 eyes on each side at the front of the front body, and 2 more at the top in the middle of the prosoma. The poisonous bladder is about as long as the sting and quite large in relation to the metasoma. The granulation of the carapace is unmistakable, because Buthus occitanus has connections of several rows of grains to a lyre-shaped figure.
Development & fertilization
When the female is fertilized, the male always lays his spermatophore on a flat surface (stone, bark), but never on sand. Then the male tries to pull the female over the spermatophore with the help of the pedipalps (scissors) so that it gets into the sexual opening of the female. The female is now fertilized.
The pre-embryonic development takes about 105 to 120 days, after the birth the newborns spend 5 to 7 days on the mother's back and then moult.
distribution
The field scorpion can be found in southern Europe in Portugal , Spain , France , the Balkans , Greece and some Mediterranean islands as well as in northern Africa, from northern Morocco to Egypt , in Senegal to Sudan , Ethiopia , Somalia , Sinai and Israel . The habitats are represented by drier areas such as sand and stone deserts, scree slopes, south-facing slopes as well as grass and scrubland. Occasionally, field scorpions invade gardens as cultural followers, where they particularly feel at home in cracks in walls, empty clay pots, under metal sheets and the like. The scorpion lives both in the lowlands and in the mountains, where it can penetrate to the snow line. In contrast to scorpions of the genus Androctonus , the field scorpion can also be found on the North African coast.
Like all scorpions, the field scorpion is primarily nocturnal. During the day, for example, he hides under stones and rubble or in caves he has dug himself.
toxicology
The toxicology deals with the poison of field scorpion. Its narrow claws suggest a more venomous species of scorpion. In southern Europe, a sting by the field scorpion is roughly equivalent to a bee sting . However, it is to be taken much more seriously, as unexpected complications can always occur. A sting must be treated medically by a doctor. In the southern distribution area, the poison's potency increases significantly. Here, a sting can have serious consequences, albeit rarely, and if it is very unfortunate it can even lead to death. The effect of the toxin is based on neurotoxins , which act in the Na + channels by keeping them open. In rare extreme cases, the result is paralysis of the respiratory muscles.
nutrition
The field scorpion feeds on all kinds of insects (Insecta) such as crickets (Gryllidae) and beetles (Coleoptera) and various spiders (Araneae). Cannibalism can sometimes be observed, especially in young animals. The scorpion grabs its prey with claws and stuns it with a sting and injection of the venom. The animal then withdraws to a shelter to eat.
swell
- Th. Junghanss, M. Bodio: Emergency manual poison animals , Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart 1996.
- Barbara and Martin Baehr: Kosmos Naturführer - Which spider is that? Franckh Kosmos Verlag, ISBN 3440092100
- Dieter Mahsberg, Rüdiger Lippe, Stephan Kallas: Skorpione Natur und Tier Verlag, ISBN 3-931587-15-0
